Boston Red Sox
Wilson Contreras was the first Red Sox to test out the system, winning his challenge in spring training Saturday.
Alex Cora is embracing the new ABS challenge system in MLB. (Barry Chin/Globe Staff)
Times are changing in Major League Baseball. Beginning in 2026, players will be able to challenge balls and strikes at the plate.
The ABS challenge system existed in the minor leagues as a proof of concept of what the game would look like with such systems in place. Pacing wasn’t slowed by the challenging process, which only takes a few seconds once initiated, and now challenges are heading to the majors.
Wilson Contreras was the first Red Sox player to use ABS, challenging a strike three call in spring training on Saturday. He won the challenge.
That play initiated a conversation about how exactly Boston plans to attack the ABS system this season. Alex Cora’s answer was a simple one: Don’t be afraid to use it.
“It’s here and we have to adjust,” Cora said. “… The good teams are going to challenge. When is the key, and you better be successful on those.”
The younger players in the Red Sox lineup will be familiar with the ABS system, using it in Triple-A over the last two seasons. That gives players like Roman Anthony and Marcelo Mayer a little leg up on some of the veterans who haven’t had the chance to challenge pitches in their careers.
Cora pointed out that Nate Eaton — who worked his way into Boston in the latter part of 2025 — had a 75 percent success rate challenging calls in Triple-A before his prolonged call up to Boston.
“I think it’s a great thing for the game,” Anthony told reporters. “I think right now especially in the spring, we talk about getting a feel for it and maybe using it more than we would in a regular season game.”
Alex Cora and other managers are likely thrilled to see the challenge system implemented at the Major League level. Though they won’t have the power to make those calls themselves, a lot of ejections could be prevented once players are able to challenge ball and strike rulings. Many of Cora’s ejections as Boston’s manager have been related to calls he disagreed with at the plate.
Officially, each team will get two challenges per game under the new rules. However, challenges are retained if successful, meaning if the right calls are argued, a team could implement the challenges as many times as they want until they lose twice. Batters and pitchers, as well as catchers, will all be eligible to initiate challenges, but managers and coaches will not.
That aspect is separate from the challenge system already in place for other umpire-related judgment calls, which will still go through the coaching staff.
Challenging judgment calls has grown in every sport since the expansion of camera angles widely available at all professional sporting events. And beginning in 2026, MLB will follow suit in allowing nearly every call made in its game to be challenged by players and coaches.
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