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The Cincinnati Reds' first-ever ABS (Automated Ball-Strike) challenge came on a pitch to catcher Tyler Stephenson in the bottom of the seventh inning of the Reds' Opening Day game March 26 against the Boston Red Sox at Great American Ball Park.
Stephenson tapped his helmet after a strike call on a pitch from Red Sox reliever Justin Slaten. The call was overturned. Stephenson walked a short time later to give the Reds a lead-off baserunner with nobody out.
In the 4th inning, the Red Sox challenged the call of a ball on a pitch from starter Garrett Crochet to Reds designated hitter Eugenio Suarez. The call was overturned, and Suarez struck out.
The Red Sox lost a challenge in the bottom of the seventh, just before Stephenson's successful challenge.
Reds manager Terry Francona has said the team is not allowing its pitchers to challenge pitches.
The ABS challenge system is new for the 2026 MLB season. It gives a player the opportunity to challenge an umpire's ball or strike call.
New York Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez initiated the first successful regular-season ABS challenge, on a ball call overturned to a strike.
Teams started experimenting with the system during 2026 spring training.
ABS is automated, using 12 cameras to determine exactly where each pitch crosses home plate.
It has been used in the minor leagues since 2021.
It debuted in the Arizona Fall League and Low-A Southeast League before being implemented into additional leagues throughout the minors.
The independent Atlantic League started using the system in 2019.
Each team is given two challenge opportunities at the start of each game.
Only the pitcher, batter and catcher can challenge pitches.
They indicate a challenge immediately after the umpire's call is made, by tapping their helmet/hat.
If the challenge is successful and the call is overturned, the team retains the challenge.
If the challenge is unsuccessful, the team loses the challenge for the rest of the game.
If the game goes into extra innings and challenges have been depleted, the team is granted one additional challenge opportunity per extra inning played.
The ABS isn't considered 100 percent accurate, but it's close.
It requires exact inputs for each batter's height in order to create an accurate strike zone.
The strike zone sits between 27 percent and 53.5 percent of a player's height, per MLB.com.
MLB players were re-measured before spring training to get updated height figures.
The ABS strike zone is based on a player's standing height.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Tyler Stephenson wins Reds' first ABS challenge Opening Day vs Red Sox
Continue reading...
Stephenson tapped his helmet after a strike call on a pitch from Red Sox reliever Justin Slaten. The call was overturned. Stephenson walked a short time later to give the Reds a lead-off baserunner with nobody out.
In the 4th inning, the Red Sox challenged the call of a ball on a pitch from starter Garrett Crochet to Reds designated hitter Eugenio Suarez. The call was overturned, and Suarez struck out.
The Red Sox lost a challenge in the bottom of the seventh, just before Stephenson's successful challenge.
Reds manager Terry Francona has said the team is not allowing its pitchers to challenge pitches.
The ABS challenge system is new for the 2026 MLB season. It gives a player the opportunity to challenge an umpire's ball or strike call.
New York Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez initiated the first successful regular-season ABS challenge, on a ball call overturned to a strike.
Teams started experimenting with the system during 2026 spring training.
What is the ABS challenge system?
ABS is automated, using 12 cameras to determine exactly where each pitch crosses home plate.
It has been used in the minor leagues since 2021.
It debuted in the Arizona Fall League and Low-A Southeast League before being implemented into additional leagues throughout the minors.
The independent Atlantic League started using the system in 2019.
How do ABS challenges work?
Each team is given two challenge opportunities at the start of each game.
Only the pitcher, batter and catcher can challenge pitches.
They indicate a challenge immediately after the umpire's call is made, by tapping their helmet/hat.
If the challenge is successful and the call is overturned, the team retains the challenge.
If the challenge is unsuccessful, the team loses the challenge for the rest of the game.
Do teams get additional ABS challenges in extra innings?
If the game goes into extra innings and challenges have been depleted, the team is granted one additional challenge opportunity per extra inning played.
The ABS isn't considered 100 percent accurate, but it's close.
It requires exact inputs for each batter's height in order to create an accurate strike zone.
The strike zone sits between 27 percent and 53.5 percent of a player's height, per MLB.com.
MLB players were re-measured before spring training to get updated height figures.
The ABS strike zone is based on a player's standing height.
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This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Tyler Stephenson wins Reds' first ABS challenge Opening Day vs Red Sox
Continue reading...
