College baseball is taking another major step toward bringing technology into the game. The NCAA announced Tuesday that teams will have the option to use an Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) Challenge System during the 2027 season, giving players the opportunity to challenge certain ball and strike calls made by home plate umpires.
The experimental rule will be available across all three NCAA divisions, allowing the system to be used during both regular season and postseason games when the necessary technology is available. Unlike a fully automated system that would replace the home-plate umpire, ABS will continue to have umpires make the initial calls, with teams able to challenge questionable decisions.
The move comes after the Southeastern Conference tested the system during its conference tournament in May. The SEC experiment gave teams three challenges to begin each game, with successful challenges allowing teams to retain their opportunity. Batters, pitchers and catchers were able to request reviews immediately after a pitch.
The experiment produced plenty of successful challenges. According to Baseball America, 105 ball strike calls were challenged during the SEC Tournament, with 59 of those calls overturned. That gave the system a 56.2% overturn rate, showing that ABS could have a meaningful impact on close calls throughout a game.
For college baseball players and coaches, the system could add another strategic element to the game. Teams will have to decide when a pitch is important enough to challenge while also making sure they do not waste their opportunities early in a game.
The technology will not necessarily be available at every stadium. The NCAA’s rule allows the system to be used when the necessary tracking technology and infrastructure are in place, meaning some programs could have ABS while others may continue using traditional ball and strike calls.
The NCAA’s decision represents another significant change for college baseball as the sport continues to embrace technology. With ABS already being used in Major League Baseball, college players will now have an opportunity to experience a similar system before potentially moving on to professional baseball.
For the 2027 season, fans can expect more challenges, more strategy and potentially fewer controversial ball and strike calls as college baseball enters a new technological era.
