A challenged pitch is a selected sample
MLB’s new review system changes who can appeal and what its statistics mean.
- Event / announcement date
- 2026-03-25
MLB’s first regular-season ABS challenge came March 25: José Caballero appealed a called strike, and it stood, Netflix’s opening-night account records. [1]
Human umpires still make calls. A batter, pitcher or catcher must immediately signal an appeal; managers cannot. Teams begin with two challenges and retain successful ones. [1]
MLB’s dashboard defines a 17-inch-wide zone, measured at the plate’s middle. Its upper and lower boundaries are 53.5% and 27% of a batter’s measured height without cleats. [2]
Its overturn rate concerns challenged calls. The separate challenge-rate denominator counts eligible takes that went against the appealing side. An overturn percentage is not overall umpire accuracy. [2]
The source
- Netflix Tudum: ABS opening-night account ↗
Source date 2026-03-26 · reviewed October 29, 2026 - MLB Statcast: ABS challenge rules and statistics ↗
Undated reference · reviewed October 29, 2026 · No publication date is given on this reference.
About this item: Retrospective report. No first-hand reporting or independent testing is claimed. Corrections policy.
