Major League Baseball’s new Automated Ball-Strike System (ABS) already has umpires pleading.
Midway through the Giants’ 10-7 spring training win over the Guardians on Saturday, San Francisco pitcher Robbie Ray threw a low sinker to Sean Mooney which was initially called a ball by home plate umpire Bill Miller before catcher Patrick Bailey challenged the call.
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Miller then announced Bailey’s challenge of the call to the crowd in Scottsdale, Ariz., but while his mic was still on, the umpire had a hysterical gaffe.
“Please be a strike,” Miller said before realizing that the crowd was able to still hear him.
Bailey, who was standing in front of Miller, snapped around in shock before later smiling and laughing.
Miller was actually hoping for his original call to be overturned, but given the scorching-hot weather in Scottsdale at that time, perhaps he wanted to cool off.
Nevertheless, his call was proven by the ABS system to be correct by three-tenths of an inch.
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Miguel Rojas, center, scores a run as San Francisco Giants catcher Patrick Bailey, left, and home plate umpire Alan Porter look on during the first inning of a spring training baseball game, Wednesday, March 18, 2026, in Phoenix. AP
After being introduced during last year’s Spring Training following multiple seasons of testing in the minor leagues and Arizona Fall League, ABS will be brought to MLB’s regular season this year.
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Some teams have been able to utilize the challenge system better than others, with the Dodgers in particular struggling so far in Spring Training.
Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts admitted earlier this month that his team’s “idea of the strike zone individually, collectively just hasn’t been great.”
The Automated Ball/Strike System plays on the scoreboard after a pitch call was challenged during the first inning of a spring training baseball game between the Chicago White Sox and the San Diego Padres, Feb. 26, 2025, in Phoenix. AP
“I honestly don’t know the answer right now,” Roberts told reporters when asked about the cause of the struggles.
First baseman Freddie Freeman also noted the difficulty of figuring out the correct zone, saying that a lot of the players are still adjusting to it.
“Even if we’re wrong, we need to use it just to figure out the tops and bottoms of the zone,” Freeman said earlier this spring. “A lot of us are still trying to learn it … Spring training is the time to figure it out, figure out your zone and see if you have a better idea of it [before the start of the season].”
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