MLB Players Are Learning the ABS Challenge Is a Lot Trickier Than It Looks From the Couch

Three weeks into the 2026 season, baseball has found its new obsession: the automated ball-strike challenge system. And if you've been watching, you know it's become appointment TV. Nearly 1,000 calls have been challenged already, with 55% overturned. Batters initiated 47% of those challenges, while fielders went after it 61% of the time. But the real story? Players are still figuring out how to actually use the thing.

The Learning Curve Is Real

Talk to guys who are actually in the game, and you get a different read than what you see on broadcast. Baltimore Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman put it bluntly: "It has provided a new aspect in the game. I'm still trying to figure it out." The timing, the confidence level, when to burn a challenge, when to hold back. It's a skill in itself.

Chicago Cubs infielder Nico Hoerner has been more impressed so far. "It has felt clean. I don't feel like it has made the games longer," he said. "We haven't had one that's been a huge turnaround in a game. I think it shows that umpires are mostly really good. There haven't been many egregious calls."

Consistency and the Real-Time Problem

Chicago White Sox starter Davis Martin has been using ABS since 2022 in the minors, and he loves what it brings to the mound. "I think it's just the consistency," Martin said. "Being able to understand that you're going to have the same strike zone every day. It's really nice, some consistency you can work towards, and it's not going to change from umpire to umpire."

But here's the kicker: Los Angeles Angels catcher Travis d'Arnaud nailed the disconnect between what fans see and what players experience. "In real time, being behind the plate, it's harder than it looks on TV," he said. "I can't tell if it's a strike or not, because I'm set up here. On TV, they're like, 'Why didn't they challenge it?' It's harder in real time."

Fans Are Here For It

Toronto Blue Jays starter Kevin Gausman noticed something nobody really expected: the crowd loves having a say. "The thing I'm most surprised about is the fan interaction," Gausman said. "Seems like the fans really enjoy telling the umpire whether it was a strike or not a strike."

The Mariners fell to the Padres 4-1, but keep your eyes on how Cal Raleigh and Julio Rodriguez adjust to this new challenge era as April rolls on.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.