Reds Make History with ABS Challenge

On March 26th, Major League Baseball kicked off its new Automated Ball Strike Challenge

system this season, and the Cincinnati Reds made history with.

Their first one, on March 26th during opening day against the Boston Red Sox at Great American

Ball Park, Reds captured Tyler Stephenson's challenge to strike.

Call in the bottom of the 7th inning, the call got overturned to a ball, and he walked

soon after, putting a runner on base with nobody out.

Here that game, the Red Sox had their own challenge in the 4th inning on a pitch to Reds

hitter Eugenio Suarez.

Umpires flipped that ball call to a strike, and Suarez struck out.

The Red Sox also lost the challenge right before Stephenson's success.

Reds manager Terry Francona has decided his pitchers won't use challenges at all this

year.

Meanwhile, New York Metz catcher, Francisco Alvarez, holds the honor of the first successful

regular season ABS overturned elsewhere.

The system gives each team two challenges per game, usable only by the pitcher, batter,

or catcher.

They signal by tapping their helmet right after the call.

When the challenge, keep it, lose it, and it's gone for the game, with one extra per

extra inning if needed.

Teams tested ABS in spring training after years in the minors, where 12 cameras track pitches

precisely against the strike zone tailored to each.

Players height, MLB even remeasured everyone.

As Umsom players adapt, these quick reviews could reshape close calls all season.

That wraps Boston Red Sox News today.

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