A tap on a helmet can trigger a camera-based review of a disputed pitch in Major League Baseball. The league introduced its Automated Ball-Strike Challenge System for the 2026 season, keeping human umpires in charge of the initial call.
The technology addresses a specific judgment: whether a pitch passes through the batter's strike zone. It does not replace every umpiring decision, and managers cannot request this review on a player's behalf.
Only the batter, pitcher or catcher can challenge. The request must come immediately after the call, without help from the dugout. A team starts with two challenges and keeps a challenge when its appeal succeeds.
The system tracks the pitch and compares its path with the batter's defined zone. A graphic then displays the result in the stadium and on the broadcast. The network carries the review information; the umpire announces the outcome.
MLB's guide reports an average review time of 13.8 seconds across 288 games in its 2025 spring training trial. With 4.1 challenges per game, that added about 57 seconds on average. Those figures describe the trial, not every 2026 game.
The challenge limit creates another decision for players: whether a borderline call is worth contesting now. Successful appeals remain available, while failed appeals reduce the team's supply.
MLB also describes procedures for technical failures. When a pitch cannot be tracked, the original call stands and the team keeps its challenge.
The camera system supplies a second judgment when a player asks for one.
