MLB’s automatic ball-strike challenge system was put to the test early in Tuesday’s All-Star Game.
And it handled the situation with good accuracy.
During the bottom of the first inning with the National League batting at Truist Park in Atlanta, Tigers ace and American League starter Tarik Skubal threw on 0-2 changeup to Padres third baseman Manny Machado that was ruled a ball by home plate umpire Dan Iassogna.
AL catcher Cal Raleigh, though, wasn’t so sure and quickly tapped his head, signaling for an ABS challenge.
Just seconds later, he was proven correct and Machado was called out on strikes.
“Hey, you take ’em any way you can get ’em boys,” a mic’d up Skubal said from the mound with a laugh.
ABS, which was been used in the minor leagues the past few seasons, was deployed during big league spring training this year and was added into this game’s Midsummer Classic in another test run.
Commissioner Rob Mafred indicated in June that the new challenge system will likely be used in the regular season in 2026.
“I think that teams are really positive about ABS,” Manfred said earlier this summer, according to The Athletic. “You know, I do have that unscientific system that I use — my email traffic — and my distinct impression is that using ABS in spring training has made people more prone to complain about balls and strike calls via email, to me, referencing the need for ABS. That is undoubtedly true, undoubtedly true.”