MLB teams are adjusting to the Automated Ball-Strike System after its first games, with mixed reactions from managers and players. The ABS uses Hawk-Eye technology to determine strikes and balls with 1/6-inch accuracy, replacing umpire calls. Cincinnati Reds manager Terry Francona initially criticized the system but noted pitchers must adapt: "They’re going to have to stay dialed in." Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora praised the tech, saying it "changes the whole thing," while teams averaged 61.3% success on challenges in the first 12 games.
Players like Boston’s Roman Anthony and Cincinnati’s Eugenio Suárez highlighted pivotal moments where ABS calls altered game outcomes, such as a 3-0 lead shifting due to a walk overturned to a strikeout.
Source: ESPN MLB · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing