What to expect with MLBs ABS system, and how

PHOENIX — Flashing bleached hair under his cap as he settles in with his new staff, Dodgers nearer Edwin Díaz threw his first pitch of Thursday’s live bating observe session to Freddie Freeman. It was called a strike. As Díaz acquired set for his next pitch, Freeman tapped on his helmet in a playful attempt to problem the call.

In response, Díaz tapped his cap twice.

These gestures will change into the norm in major league baseball this season, beginning this weekend, thanks to the Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) Challenge System.

Each staff will start video games with two challenges, initiated by a pitcher, hitter or catcher tapping their head within seconds of the call — no dugout session allowed. The second it’s challenged, a graphic will show the consequence of the problem on the video board and once the call is confirmed or overturned, the sport will go on.

Teams retain challenges when they’re profitable and lose them when they’re not.

The added layer of strategy intrigues Stephen Nelson, the Dodgers’ radio play-by-play voice.

“As humans we are naturally resistant to change, especially baseball fans, and I say that as a baseball fan,” Nelson said this week at the staff’s Camelback Ranch training facility. “So there’s definitely going to be that early period where everybody’s probably going to hate it, but you got to get through that.”

In latest years, MLB has tweaked the sport — implementing a replay system to problem calls on the sphere, inserting a runner on second base to start additional innings, utilizing a pitch clock. The ABS system has been examined in the minor leagues since 2022, and major leaguers acquired a style of it during spring training last 12 months and also in the All-Star Game.

In 288 spring video games last 12 months, there was an average of 4.1 challenges per recreation, including an average of 57 seconds to it. Pitchers and catchers efficiently overturned calls more often than hitters.

So who can be in charge of making challenges during at-bats?

“I will let the catcher dictate if he [wants] to challenge or not,” Díaz said this week. “I won’t do it … he’s been there all day long, they know the strike zone for the umpire.”

Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts was hesitant to say the membership could have a arduous rule on who can call for challenges. He feels more snug with his catcher doing it than a hitter or pitcher, but if a catcher decides to problem, he expects them to be proper.

“He better be right,” Roberts said Friday.

“It’s good that we’re practicing in spring, but we’re having conversations about leverage and how to use it to our advantage,” he added.

Roberts said if hitters need to make a call, they need to be trustworthy with themselves about their personal information of the strike zone and their baseball IQ and perceive when to problem a call and when not to.

“There’s no perfect science to it, but we’re just going to keep talking about it, trying to educate our guys,” he said.

Luis Cruz, a former participant and now a Spanish-language announcer for the Dodgers, said hitters don’t need to be pondering about difficult a call.

“I don’t want to have another thing in my mind … then you lose your focus on your at-bat,” he said.

Jackson Ferris to start Sunday’s recreation

Left-hander Jackson Ferris, the Dodgers’ minor league pitcher of the 12 months in 2024, will start Sunday’s recreation against the San Diego Padres at the Peoria Sports Complex.

Ferris, acquired along with outfield prospect Zyhir Hope from the Chicago Cubs for Michael Busch two years in the past, logged a 3.86 ERA and 1.46 walks plus hits per inning pitched across 26 video games and 126 innings at double-A Tulsa last season.

“I like Jackson,” Roberts said. “I like the player. He’s a good kid. A lot of talent. I think for me, it’s just trying to harness his arsenal. It’s a good fastball. He needs to continue to get ahead, be able to put hitters away with the secondary pitches, be efficient with his pitches per inning, but I like Jackson. He’s really talented. He’s scratching the surface, but he’s gotta go out there and perform, so I’m excited to see him on Sunday, and throughout the spring.”