Why there's no ABS challenge system in Team USA vs. Giants WBC exhibition game

You may have noticed that there is no automated ball-strike challenge system while watching today's World Baseball Classic exhibition game between Team USA and the San Francisco Giants. 

Actually, ABS will be absent for all of today's games that feature a matchup between an MLB organization and a WBC team. Home plate umpires will have free range to call balls and strikes, and the call cannot be overruled. 

That's right, just like the old days.

The answer as to why is simple: the challenge system, newly implemented for MLB in 2026, will not take effect in this year's WBC. 

Will the WBC have a pitch clock? 

Yes, there will be a pitch clock in this year's 20-team international tournament, adopting rules identical to the Majors. 

Pitchers have 15 seconds to throw a pitch with the bases empty, and 18 seconds to deliver their offering with runners on base. Hitters need to be in the batter's box and alert with at least eight seconds remaining on the timer. 

San Francisco's lineup against Team USA features a handful of regulars (Willy Adames, Matt Chapman, Patrick Bailey) and top prospect Bryce Eldridge, a 6-foot-7 first baseman who hit 18 home runs in 66 games last season at Triple-A Sacramento. 

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