What happened: An automated ball-strike challenge left the Ball 1 call in place during MLB's 2026 ABS testing.

Why it matters: Upheld calls matter for the league's review model because they show how often the on-field zone survives a challenge. The larger question is whether the system can stay fast enough for game flow while reducing missed ball-strike calls.

What to watch: Watch for MLB's next ABS usage updates as the league evaluates the challenge format across 2026 games.