Cincinnati Reds manager Terry Francona admitted that he’s not worried about Major League Baseball’s upcoming shift to an automated ball-strike system.
The league announced in September that the 2026 season will officially feature the Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) Challenge System on a permanent basis. Minor league games have used the ABS for several years, and Major League Baseball has experimented with it in spring training games, as well as last year’s All-Star Game.
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Francona, who turns 67 next April, has been around professional baseball since his father, Tito, played in the 1960s. Speaking with ESPN at the Winter Meetings, Francona admitted that he initially didn’t want to try the ABS last spring. However, he gave in after the league asked him to, and the two-time World Series champion acknowledged that he “actually didn’t mind it.”
“I thought it was OK,” Francona said, “and I thought the fans loved it. Didn’t stop the game much. Everybody waited for the scoreboard. I think it will be OK.”
What to Know About the MLB Automated Ball-Strike System
Cincinnati Reds manager Terry Francona (77) yells at umpire Alex MacKayBrett Davis-Imagn Images
As things currently stand, umpires will continue using their judgment to determine whether a pitch is a ball or a strike. However, players can request a challenge, and the ruling is either confirmed or overturned following a brief review.
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Each team receives two challenges per game and will receive additional challenges if a game goes into extra innings. Only the batter, catcher, or pitcher can formally request a review; successful challenges are retained, similar to the NFL’s rules on throwing a challenge flag.
According to Major League Baseball, 72% of fans said the ABS had a positive impact on their experience watching spring training games. Additionally, 69% of fans want baseball to continue with ABS, while 31% prefer that umpires retain the final decision on balls and strikes.
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The ABS arrives amid social media accounts and content creators regularly using data and game footage to evaluate umpire performance. Perhaps the most well-known X/Twitter accounts are Umpire Auditor and Umpire Scorecards, both of which have developed large followings in recent seasons.
Umpire Scorecards found that 92 umpires called at least one game behind home plate during the 2025 season, with 81 working at least 20 games. Four umpires — Bruce Dreckman (92.5%), Laz Díaz (92.8%), CB Bucknor (92.81%), and Andy Fletcher (92.87%) — had the worst accuracy rates of the 81 qualified umpires after missing at least 7% of their ball-strike calls.
The ABS makes its regular-season debut on Wednesday, March 25, when the San Francisco Giants host the New York Yankees.
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This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Dec 16, 2025, where it first appeared in the MLB section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.