MLB's New Challenge System: A Game-Changer for Players and Fans
JUPITER, FL - The Miami Marlins' Clayton McCullough is among the fans of MLB's new challenge system, which has been a game-changer for players and fans alike. The system, known as the Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) Challenge System, has been tested in the minor leagues since 2022 and in big-league spring training last year. It gives players a formal, effective, and efficient way to ensure key calls are made correctly while maintaining the human element of home-plate umpires.
On Monday, at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium, Marlins pitcher Josh White faced St. Louis Cardinals right fielder Joshua Baez. With the game on the line, White's fourth pitch was an 86.1 mph slider that appeared to clip the lower inside corner of the strike zone for a strikeout. But Baez had other ideas.
Baez tapped his helmet, and the video board in left-center field showed that the ball was outside the strike zone by one-tenth of an inch. The call was overturned, and White got another chance. This time, he placed the slider near the lower outside corner of the strike zone, and Baez called it again.
But Baez wasn't done yet. He tapped his helmet again, and the video board showed that White's pitch missed outside by three-tenths of an inch. The call was overturned again, and Baez drew a walk. The Cardinals went on to win the game 3-2 in walk-off fashion.
Two taps of the helmet on back-to-back pitches changed the course of the game. And it served as a prime example in real-time of how beneficial MLB's latest initiative can be when used right.
"That," Marlins manager Clayton McCullough said postgame, "was probably MLB's dream scenario right there."
So how does the ABS Challenge System work? Each team starts with two challenges apiece, and pitchers, catchers, and batters can all challenge a call. If a team successfully overturns a call, the challenge is retained. If a game goes to extra innings, they will be given one challenge per inning.
Challenges must be made immediately after the umpire's call, with the tap of a cap or helmet. An animated pitch result graphic is shown on the stadium's video board and on the television broadcast, and a decision is made quickly. The whole process takes about 15 seconds, similar to the challenge system in tennis.
So far in spring training, Marlins catchers have been successful with the challenge system. Agustin Ramirez is 4 for 5, Liam Hicks is 4 for 6, and Joe Mack is 1 for 2. McCullough and Mack credit Marlins director of catching Maxx Garrett and first base coach Craig Driver for helping the catchers get valuable reps with the challenge system in practice.
"They've been in the stadium using the technology we have there to try to gamify as much as we can their practice settings," McCullough said. "We've continued to encourage them to trust that training. We believe that, ultimately, they'll be, we hope, the best at doing this."
Mack, who has experience with the challenge system from his time in the minor leagues, said the Marlins have strategies in place on when best to use their challenges. But catchers are usually allowed to just rip them whenever they think that a ball is a strike or a strike is a ball.
The main adjustment for Mack this year is how the strike zone is adjusting for each hitter. While the width of the strike zone remains unchanged at 17 inches over home plate, the height will vary by player. The top end of the strike zone is at 53.5% of a hitter's height, and the bottom is at 27% of the player's height.
"Instead of just having one set zone for everybody," Mack said, "it's pretty much custom to that person. So I guess [the main challenge is] just kind of like figuring out each person's zone and really just being intentional with that."
Injury and roster updates:
- Outfielder Kyle Stowers (right hamstring strain) took about 30 swings and played catch on Sunday. The plan is for him to get live at-bats on the back fields and start a running progression in the next few days.
- Right-handed pitcher Janson Junk (right ankle sprain) is scheduled to make his first Grapefruit League appearance of spring on Saturday. He is set for one inning in that game.
- Right-handed pitcher Anthony Bender (shin) is scheduled to do a couple more live batting practice sessions before appearing in Grapefruit League games.
- Left-handed pitcher Thomas White (right oblique strain), MLB's No. 17 overall prospect, is sidelined for the remainder of spring.
- White and six other players were reassigned to minor-league camp on Tuesday.
