With the start of spring training games, the reality of Major League Baseball\u2019s new Automated Ball-Strike challenge system has officially arrived.<\/p>\n
The Orioles and Yankees kicked off the action Friday, with the first ABS challenge <\/a>called by Baltimore\u2019s Colton Cowser in the second inning. The called strike was upheld after a brief review which was only the start of the challenges made over the game.<\/p>\n Yankees catcher Austin Wells won his first ABS challenge which seemingly gave him some confidence with the new system. The next time around, however, he challenged a pitch that was well low of the strike zone. That call was quickly upheld to no surprise.<\/p>\n Austin Wells loses a challenge for the Yankees<\/p>\n The automated ball-strike system will be used during the season for the first time ever pic.twitter.com\/F9oupf3afI<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Talkin’ Yanks (@TalkinYanks) February 20, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n The bad read left the Yankees with one challenge the rest of the way. Wells challenged another pitch the next inning, which the ABS system ruled was just over two inches high and correctly ruled a ball. Since each team receives two challenges<\/a> per game and can retain a challenge if it\u2019s ultimately successful, Wells\u2019s second unsuccessful challenge of the game left the Yankees with none remaining in the fifth inning.<\/p>\n Yankees are out of challenges as Austin Wells loses the two of them in back-to-back innings<\/p>\n This challenge took 40 seconds https:\/\/t.co\/V7wHFlGJkj<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/kSQnFnzRYH<\/a><\/p>\n