Marlins' Catchers Master New MLB Challenge System

0:00It's March 25th, MLB News. Today starts now, AI powered and game ready. I'm Cory with the story. Major League Baseball teams are gearing up for the new automated ball strike challenge system this season. Powered by T-Mobile, it lets each team start with two challenges per game to appeal umpire calls on pitches. If a challenge fails, they lose one. The system tracks pitch location against each batter's personal strike zone for accuracy. In spring training, the Miami-Marlins focused their strategy on catchers handling all defensive challenges. Those backstops posted a 67% success rate on overturns, ranking 5th best in the grapefruit league. They trained hard with tools like Hawkeye, in stadiums, and cages. Practicing on tricky pitches from high velocity sliders to off-target ones. Managers and players praised the setup for building quick decision skills. Catchers got real-time feedback after innings, reviewing pitch locations right in the dugout. This helped them spot patterns, like zones where umps call more balls, especially during steals or pickoffs.

1:04Marlins hitters followed strict rules for their challenges, targeting key counts, runners in scoring position, or when few challenges remained. They succeeded 48% of the time, tying for 11th best. Even pitchers stayed chill about sitting it out, saying catchers have the clearest view from behind the plate. As the regular season nears, these reps should sharpen everyone's edge, blending old-school umpiring with tech precision for fairer calls across the league.