Major League Baseball’s new automated ball-strike (ABS) system is reshaping the 2026 season, with early data showing both longer game times and increased fan attendance.
According to league figures, the average nine-inning game has risen to 2 hours and 42 minutes, up four minutes from 2025 and six minutes from 2024. While still well below the pre–pitch clock era, the increase reflects a tradeoff as MLB integrates ABS challenges into live gameplay.
Commissioner Rob Manfred said the league is comfortable sacrificing some pace-of-play gains in exchange for improved accuracy and added fan engagement through replay-style challenge moments displayed in stadiums.
Attendance has also seen an early boost, rising 4.2% across the league through the opening stretch of the season. MLB has drawn nearly 7 million fans so far, marking its strongest early-season attendance growth in years and continuing a multi-year upward trend.
The ABS system has already generated more than 900 challenges, with just over half resulting in overturned calls. Pitchers and catchers have seen higher success rates than hitters in challenge outcomes.
League officials say the technology is adding a new layer of drama to games, with fans reacting strongly to on-screen pitch reviews, potentially contributing to the attendance increase.