Breaking down baseball’s biggest plot twist: The ABS Challenge System

The GIST: This year’s campaign features an intriguing plot twist: The introduction of the Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) challenge system, which will allow players — specifically the batter, the pitcher, and the catcher — to challenge an umpire’s ball or strike call. From how it works to the unexpected fallout , here’s everything you need to know.

⁉️ How it works: In order to signal for a challenge, a player taps their hat or helmet. This must be done immediately after the initial ball or strike call and without help from the dugout or other players. You’re on your own, kid.

• A pitch result graphic (pictured above) will be on display for those in attendance and at home, instantaneously showing whether or not the umpire was right. Each team starts with two challenges per game and will lose one if their challenge is unsuccessful.

😬 Short kings everywhere are on notice: And some were caught lying because the ABS system operates based on each player’s accurate height. The ABS strike zone is 17 inches wide (the same width as home plate), while the top part of the zone is determined using 53.5% of a player’s height and 27% of their height for the bottom.

• Height discrepancies aside, expect teams to deploy their ABS challenges carefully. Challenges are limited, and squads will certainly want to have one on hand in the crucial final innings.