Overview
- In the Yankees–Giants opener Wednesday, José Caballero issued the first regular-season ABS challenge and the review upheld Bill Miller’s strike call.
- Teams start with two challenges per nine innings and only the batter, pitcher or catcher can initiate one by tapping the helmet immediately, with successful challenges retained and one new challenge granted per extra inning if a team has none left.
- A Hawk-Eye camera network judges pitches against a batter-specific, two-dimensional zone at the plate’s midpoint that is 17 inches wide with the top at 53.5% of measured height and the bottom at 27%, and the result appears on scoreboards and broadcasts in about 15 seconds.
- Spring tests showed few challenges and roughly a 52–53% overturn rate, with catchers outperforming hitters on success, which is shaping how clubs decide who should make the call.
- ABS runs in all 30 MLB parks but not at neutral-site games such as Mexico City, Field of Dreams or the Little League Classic, and umpires can deny late or dugout-aided requests to keep decisions in the players’ hands.