MLB Brings Automated Ball-Strike Challenges and AR to the World Series

Major League Baseball used the World Series to bring together a season of broadcast technology upgrades, headlined by the debut of its Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) Challenge System in the Fall Classic.

According to Sports Video Group, the system reached a milestone when Milwaukee Brewers catcher William Contreras successfully challenged a ball call in Game 1 of the series against the Tampa Bay Rays. It marked the first time the technology featured in the World Series, following a full regular season of integration into live coverage.

The ABS Challenge System lets pitchers, catchers, and batters contest ball-strike calls, adding a new strategic layer to the game. For MLB's broadcasting team, the feature required new production workflows so viewers could follow challenges quickly and consistently. When a call is contested, an animated visualization is shown.