MLB Memo: All Triple-A Games Will Use ABS Challenge System Starting on June 25

MLB informed farm directors on Tuesday that all Triple-A games will use the automatic balls and strikes challenge system starting on June 25, per ESPN's Jesse Rogers.

The move is a departure from the full ABS system, which was previously used for half the week, and indicates that the league is getting closer to implementing the challenge system at the major league level.

Rogers noted that MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said bringing the ABS challenge system to the majors is at least one more season away from happening. Sources told Rogers that the earliest any system could be added to the majors is 2026.

The challenge system will allow hitters and catchers to challenge calls on balls and strikes in real time, and umpires then receive an answer to the challenge through an earpiece. The full ABS system completely removes the umpire from the equation and makes all the calls for him.

Triple-A had been using full ABS for games scheduled from Tuesday through Thursday and the challenge system for weekend matchups. Rogers noted that the league's memo that was distributed on Tuesday said research showed players, coaches and fans all prefer the challenge system over full ABS.

Rogers also reported that the International League is set to experiment with giving teams two challenges per game as opposed to three in an effort to reduce the frequency of high-challenge games. The league found that more than six challenges are used in 40 percent of Triple-A games. Teams always retain their challenges if they are successful.

These changes are part of MLB's continued effort to modernize the game and move baseball forward.