Pirates Struggle with ABS: 43.5% Success Rate

0:00It's April 23rd, MLB News, today starts now, AI powered and game ready. I'm Corey with the story. The Pittsburgh Pirates are off to a rough start, with Major League Baseball's new Automated Ball Strike Challenge System, known as ABS. So far this season through April 22nd, they've hit just a 43.5% success rate, ranking 27th in the league, or 4th worst overall. James Lagan behind them include the San Francisco Giants at 41.9%, the Cleveland Guardians at 41.3%, and the Washington Nationals dead last at 35.1%. The system uses five Hawkeye cameras in every stadium to track pitches and overturn bad calls on balls and strikes. Position players lead the charge for the Pirates, with designated hitter Marcel Ozuna stepping up most, going 4 for 7 at 57.1%. Yet though, he's missed his last three, overall their hitter sit tie for 20th at 44%.

1:03On the mound, starters and relievers have mixed results. Right-hander Bubba Chandler nailed his only challenge on April 12th against the Cubs at N. Riggley Field, but lefty Gregory Soto, and another pitcher, with theirs, leaving pitchers at 25%, 10th in baseball. Catchers Joey Bart and Henry Davis have them 26th at 47.1%. As the season rolls on, the Pirates need to sharpen those challenges to flip more games their way, especially with Ozuna cooling off lately.