Every time we talk about the ABS, there are shouts that it is ruining the game for the catchers and taking the game’s soul away. But every time the umpires show us why it is better to have an ABS than blown calls at important moments, like in the WBC game between Team USA and the Dominican Republic.

Why is there no ABS in the World Baseball Classic? Know the reason

The 2026 WBC does not use the Automated Ball Strike challenge system despite MLB testing. MLB tested ABS during the 2025 spring training and the 2025 All-Star Game. Those tests showed 52.2 percent of challenged calls were overturned, proving the system still remains experimental.

Because ABS becomes official in MLB during the 2026 regular season, tournament rules arrived earlier. The 2026 World Baseball Classic adopted rules finalized before MLB confirmed league-wide ABS use. That timing left umpires controlling balls and strikes across the 20-team international tournament.

Players quickly noticed the difference during exhibitions between national teams and MLB clubs this spring. Ronald Acuña Jr tried challenging a strike during Venezuela’s game against Houston, but officials denied it. The umpire explained that ABS challenges are not allowed in World Baseball Classic games this year.

Who Were the Umpires in the USA vs DR Game

The WBC game at LoanDepot Park used six umpires, with Cory Blaser calling pitches tonight.

In MLB tracking, Blaser called 4256 pitches with 93.98 percent accuracy, above the 93.45% expected league average. First base umpire Jeremie Rehak has 3871 called pitches tracked, posting 94.99% accuracy overall. Crew chief Dan Bellino owns 94.71% accuracy across 4648 tracked pitches in MLB data.

Blaser single game accuracy ranges from 89.66 to 97.44% across recorded MLB games historically. Rehak’s accuracy beats the expected 93.74% mark by 1.25 points in MLB tracking data overall. Bellino’s accuracy sits 1.10 points above the expected 93.61% across nearly 4648 tracked pitches total. Alongside them, Delfin Colon, Cuti Suarez, and Chris Graham covered third base, left, and right field.

Why was it necessary? Umpiring Errors, Wrong Judgments, and Their Impact on WBC So Far

The 2026 WBC semifinal between Team USA and the Dominican Republic ended 2-1 Sunday night. With two outs, Mason Miller faced Geraldo Perdomo while Julio Rodríguez stood nearby representing the tying run.

Miller’s full count pitch dropped below the strike zone, yet the umpire ruled strike three immediately. That decision ended the semifinal instantly, leaving the Dominican dugout and 36,337 fans stunned inside Miami.

Earlier moments already showed how small calls carried heavy weight across tightly contested tournament games. The Dominican lineup entered the semifinal leading the event with 15 home runs across earlier rounds.

Junior Caminero added one more in the second inning, pushing the tournament total past Mexico’s 2009 mark. When games stay close like 2-1, one strike call naturally carries enormous influence over outcomes.

That pressure explains why fans questioned the absence of an automated strike review during tense moments. The 2026 World Baseball Classic still follows rules without ABS, leaving every ball strike decision final. During spring exhibitions, Ronald Acuña Jr attempted a challenge signal, but officials denied it immediately.

Because the tournament uses traditional umpire calls, every judgment remains final regardless of replay technology.