7:33pm: Major League Baseball’s Joint Competition Committee voted 9-2 to approve the ABS challenge system, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports. 12:52pm: As expected, the ABS challenge system has been approved, per an MLB announcement. The 11-person committee — comprised of six owners, four players and one umpire — is expected to approve the ABS system for next year. The strike zone will not be fully automated if and when the ABS system is approved. The ABS system was first implemented in the low minors back in 2021.