Overview
- Yankees shortstop José Caballero, who challenged a strike in San Francisco on Wednesday’s Opening Night, saw the call upheld in the first regular‑season use of MLB’s ABS system.
- Mets catcher Francisco Álvarez delivered the first successful overturn Thursday at Citi Field, turning a full‑count ball on Oneil Cruz into strike three.
- Only the batter, pitcher, or catcher may challenge by tapping the helmet within two seconds, and each team starts with two challenges that are kept when correct and replenished one per inning if out in extras.
- Twelve Hawk‑Eye cameras track each pitch and T‑Mobile’s 5G link sends near‑instant results to videoboards, using a 17‑inch zone set at 53.5% and 27% of each hitter’s height at the plate midpoint.
- Spring trials showed about 2.6% of pitches were challenged with roughly a 50% success rate, catchers led in accuracy, and clubs are setting in‑game protocols, though special events outside equipped parks will not use ABS.