For the first time in 150 years, MLB players will be able to challenge balls and strikes during live games this season.

The tech works like this: 12 cameras track every pitch → the pitcher, catcher, or hitter challenges the call → pitch location data is relayed to MLB via 5G-connected devices → MLB creates a graphic for TV and the jumbotron → the umpire announces the result.

Many fans believe this will slow down the game, but that's not necessarily true.

Here's what 7 years of minor league testing data tells us:

• Average game has 4 challenges

• Each review takes about 14 seconds

• Just over 1% of all pitches are challenged

• 52% of all challenges are overturned

• Challenges extend the average game by 1 minute

To put that into context, the pitch clock reduced average game time by about 25-30 minutes between 2022 and 2025, so ABS adding back 1 minute only eliminates about 3-4% of those saved minutes.

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