On Tuesday, Major League Baseball announced that starting in 2026, the league would adopt the Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) Challenge System for all games. The new rule will allow a pitcher, hitter or catcher to challenge a ball-strike call, turning to technology to make the decision. The Boston Red Sox have some players who could take advantage of the new rule.
Red Sox rookie Roman Anthony is primed to be a major benefactor of the new system. Anthony is fairly passive at the plate, in part because he has a strong understanding of the strike zone. His unwillingness to expand the zone has hurt him at times this season, though. In 71 games, umpires incorrectly called 26 strikes on pitches outside the zone with Anthony at the plate. With the new system, Anthony can challenge some of those calls, reversing the course of his at-bats.
Carlos Narvaez is another player who could benefit from the system. His 5.7% called strike rate on pitches taken outside the strike zone is the fourth-highest on the team among hitters who have taken at least 100 pitches. On top of that, he’ll have the ability to challenge pitches as a catcher. Baseball Savant grades Narvaez as an excellent framer of the baseball, but the new rule will allow him to correct some umpire errors.
On the pitching side, Garrett Crochet stands to benefit. The lefty doesn’t need any more help, but umpires haven’t done him many favors. 14.6% of pitches opponents take in the strike zone have been called balls this season. That number is among the highest in the league. With the ability to challenge, the Red Sox ace could see even more strikeouts and fewer walks.
While it’s not specific to the Red Sox, younger players may also have an initial advantage. The ABS Challenge System has been tested over the years in the minor leagues. Anthony, as well as Marcelo Mayer and Kristian Campbell, have experience with the system and might have a leg up in determining the best times to challenge.
Story continues below advertisement
Each team receives two challenges per game under the new rule. If the challenge is successful, the team retains that challenge. There will be a learning period, but it’s likely that teams save their challenges for late-game situations and obvious errors. The challenge has to be immediate with no help from the dugout, so Red Sox manager Alex Cora won’t be able to call for a review.