Robot umpires overturned 54% of challenged calls in the first season of the automated ball-strike (ABS) system. There were 10,557 challenges, averaging 4.35 per game, with 5,686 resulting in overturned decisions. Catchers proved most successful with a 59% success rate, while batters followed at 49% and pitchers at 40%.
Learning when to challenge became a critical skill. The Cincinnati Reds saw a net gain of 16.8 runs, while the Cleveland Guardians ranked 30th with minus-13.4. Yankees manager Aaron Boone described the process as a "new muscle for players to learn."
Individual standouts included Milwaukee's William Contreras, who led catchers with 185 challenges, and Philadelphia's J.T. Realmuto, who achieved an 81% success rate. Realmuto also recorded the first game-ending ABS challenge in postseason history during the Phillies' NL Wild Card Series against the Braves. Among batters, Gabriel Moreno led in success rate at 68%, while Yandy Díaz of Tampa Bay went 686 plate appearances without a single challenge.
Source: ESPN MLB · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing