Major League Baseball is charging toward a high-tech future, but one of its biggest stars is digging in his cleats. Atlanta Braves ace and nine-time All-Star Chris Sale has issued a blistering rejection of the league's planned Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) Challenge System, set for full implementation in the 2026 season.
A Pitcher's Defiant Stand
When asked about the new technology that will allow players to challenge ball and strike calls, Sale left no room for interpretation. "I will never challenge a pitch. I will never do it," the fiery left-hander told reporters, including Justin Felder of Fox Sports 5. "Because I'm not an umpire. That's their job. I'm a starting pitcher. I've never called balls and strikes in my life."
Sale, a former Cy Young Award winner known for his competitive fire, added a touch of self-aware humor to his critique. "Plus, I'm greedy – and I know that. I think they're all strikes," he said. "Catchers nowadays, the way they catch the ball and the way they receive, they make them all look like strikes."
How the ABS Challenge System Works
The system, which will get a showcase during a March 25 spring training game between the New York Yankees and San Francisco Giants, represents a significant shift in the game's officiating. After years of fan and analyst debate over umpire consistency, MLB is giving teams a digital tool to contest calls.
Here’s the breakdown: Each team begins every game with two challenges to appeal ball or strike decisions made by the home-plate umpire. The technology uses precise, real-time pitch tracking to measure a pitch's location against the specific batter's strike zone. When a challenge is initiated, the result is calculated and then flashed nearly instantly to the crowd on stadium videoboards and to broadcast viewers at home, powered by a 5G network from T-Mobile's Advanced Network Solutions.
As detailed by MLB.com's Anthony Castrovince, the process is designed for speed. The goal is to provide clarity without significantly disrupting the game's flow. In extra innings, teams that have exhausted their challenges will receive one additional challenge per inning, though unused challenges won't carry over.
The Broader Context of Change
Sale's vehement opposition throws a fascinating curveball into what many assumed would be a universally welcomed change. The system is designed to correct obvious mistakes while preserving the human element of the umpire's role for the vast majority of pitches. It’s a compromise position between fully automated "robot umpires" and the traditional, unchallengeable authority of the crew behind the plate.
The veteran pitcher's stance highlights a cultural divide. For some purists and players, the rhythm and human judgment of the game are sacred. For others, the pursuit of perfect accuracy on every pitch is the ultimate goal. Sale firmly plants his flag in the former camp, framing the act of challenging a call as a step outside a pitcher's designated role.
What Happens Next?
It remains to be seen if Sale's boycott will inspire other players or if he will be a lone voice of dissent. His declaration sets up a compelling scenario for the 2026 season: will he hold firm if a crucial postseason call goes against him? Could a catcher or manager override his decision and challenge on his behalf?
Furthermore, the rules allow for the rare possibility of both an ABS challenge and a standard video replay review occurring on the same play, adding another layer of potential drama. As baseball continues to integrate technology, the clash between tradition and innovation, embodied by stars like Chris Sale, promises to be one of the sport's most engaging ongoing stories.
