ATLANTA — In a groundbreaking moment for baseball, Cal Raleigh achieved an impressive four out of five successful challenges using the newly introduced Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) system during Tuesday night’s MLB All-Star Game. The Seattle catcher’s effective use of the technology highlighted the debut of the robot umpire challenge system, which is being considered for regular-season implementation as early as 2026.
Raleigh’s appeals came as part of the National League’s 3-0 victory over the American League at Truist Park, ushering in a possible new era of officiating in Major League Baseball. The first challenge, requested by Raleigh in the opening inning, overturned a strike call by plate umpire Dan Iassogna, resulting in the strikeout of Detroit pitcher Tarik Skubal against San Diego’s Manny Machado.
Detailed Account of Challenges During the Game
The introduction of ABS at the All-Star Game featured five total challenges to umpires’ calls, four of which were ruled in favor of the challengers. Oakland Athletics rookie Jacob Wilson was the first batter to use the system in the fifth inning, successfully overturning a called strike against MacKenzie Gore of the Washington Nationals.
Seattle’s Kyle Stowers experienced the only unsuccessful challenge, as the system upheld a full-count strike from Miami’s Andrés Muñoz in the eighth inning, which ended the inning. Masters closer Edwin Díaz then earned a quick strikeout with the ABS overturning a call when Iassogna had judged a pitch outside against Tampa Bay’s Randy Arozarena. Later, Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk employed the system to secure a first-pitch strike on an Aroldis Chapman fastball clocked at 100.1 mph in the ninth inning.
The ABS system also displayed its swift review capabilities during the game; an animation of the computer’s strike zone determination was shown on the stadium scoreboard and live broadcast, allowing fans and viewers to follow the process in real time. Dave Roberts, manager of the National League’s Los Angeles Dodgers squad, praised the new technology, saying,
“The fans enjoy it. I thought the players had fun with it. There’s a strategy to it, if it does get to us during the season. But I like it. I think it’s good for the game.”
How Cal Raleigh’s Challenge Played Out and Its Impact
Raleigh’s key challenge occurred early when Skubal, having allowed a two-run double by Ketel Marte and securing one out against Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman, fell behind Machado in the count 0-2. After Skubal delivered an 89.5 mph changeup, Iassogna called “Ball down!” The catcher immediately signaled to the ABS system, triggering a review. The computer verified the pitch was a strike, reversing the umpire’s decision and resulting in Machado’s strikeout.
“Obviously, a strike like that it was, so I called for it and it helped us out,”
Raleigh remarked about his successful challenge. Machado, whose strikeout was validated by the system, added,
“I knew it was a strike.”
While Skubal acknowledged the system’s success, he expressed hesitation about relying on its use during regular-season games.
“I was joking around that I was going to burn two of them on the first balls just so that way we didn’t have them the rest of the game,”
Skubal said.
“I’m just going to assume that it’s going to happen next year.”
The pitcher indicated he prefers to trust his catchers over the challenge system in routine play.
Major League Baseball’s Consideration of ABS for Next Season
The introduction of ABS aligns with MLB’s ongoing experiments since 2019 in the minor leagues, where the system managed full-pitch calls before shifting to a challenge format. Under the current testing format, teams are granted two challenges each, with successful appeals allowing teams to retain those challenges. Only catchers, batters, and pitchers are permitted to call for the system’s use.
Commissioner Rob Manfred expressed measured optimism about the technology, noting,
“I think the ability to correct a bad call in a high-leverage situation without interfering with the time of game because it’s so fast is something we ought to continue to pursue.”
He acknowledged that the competition committee, which includes players and owners, would evaluate the system for adoption in the upcoming season.
Addressing Concerns Related to Technology and Strike Zone Definition
While enthusiasm around ABS remains high, some concerns remain regarding its precision and impact on game flow. The official margin of error for ABS decisions is up to a half-inch, which has raised questions from the Major League Baseball Players Association president, Tony Clark. He cautioned about potential ramifications concerning challenge use, asking,
“Does there need to be some type of buffer zone consideration? Or do we want to find ourselves in a world where it’s the most egregious misses that we want focus in on?”
Manfred downplayed the necessity of a buffer zone, stating,
“I don’t believe that technology supports the notion that you need a buffer zone. To get into the idea that there’s something that is not a strike that you’re going to call a strike in a review system, I don’t know why I would want to do that.”
Another area open to further discussion is the delineation of the automated strike zone itself. Major League Baseball has defined the zone for ABS at a height covering roughly 53.5% to 27% of a batter’s height, measured at the midpoint of home plate, a method differing from the current “cube” defined by the rulebook for human umpires.
Clark remarked,
“We haven’t even started talking about the strike zone itself, how that’s going to necessarily be measured, and whether or not there are tweaks that need to be made there, too. So there’s a lot of discussion that still needs to be had, despite the fact that it seems more inevitable than not.”
Player Perspectives and Potential Challenges with ABS Technology
Players have had input throughout ABS’s development, influencing its current challenge-based format. Manfred noted the evolution in player attitudes, saying,
“Where we are on ABS has been fundamentally influenced by player input. If you had two years ago said to me: What do the owners want to do? I think they would have called every pitch with ABS as soon as possible. That’s because there is a fundamental, very fundamental interest in getting it right, right? We owe it to our fans to try to get it right because the players as I talked to them over a couple of years really, expressed a very strong interest or preference for the challenge system that we decided to test.”
However, practical questions about technology reliability remain among players. Skubal raised concerns regarding contingency plans if data systems fail during games, wondering aloud,
“If power goes out and we don’t have ABS — sometimes we don’t have Hawk-Eye data or Trackman data. So what’s going to happen then? Are we going to expect umpires to call balls and strikes when it’s an ABS zone?”
This highlights ongoing challenges around integrating automated systems into the tradition-rich sport.
Implications for the Future of Officiating in Baseball
The successful use of Cal Raleigh robot umpire challenges at the All-Star Game marks a pivotal step toward broader acceptance of automated ball-strike technology. Its ability to swiftly correct calls without delaying the game could reduce controversy in critical moments, potentially improving fairness and consistency across Major League Baseball.
As teams, players, and officials continue to assess and refine the system, the 2023 All-Star Game offered a practical glimpse at how ABS might operate in regular-season play. The combination of technological precision, player strategy, and umpire oversight will shape how baseball embraces this innovation moving forward. With ongoing dialogue about zone calibration, challenge parameters, and contingency preparedness, ABS could soon become a permanent fixture on the field, altering the dynamic between players and umpires while maintaining the sport’s integrity and pace.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Who is Cal Raleigh’s dad?
A. Todd Raleigh plans to hit home runs off pitches thrown by his dad, an experienced college baseball coach.
Q. Is Cal Raleigh any good?
A. After playing 94 games, Cal Raleigh holds the top spot in MLB with 38 home runs and 81 RBIs. His Wins Above Replacement, or WAR, is 6.2 according to FanGraphs. This places him second in the league behind Aaron Judge, who has a WAR of 7.1 this season. Among catchers since 2015, Raleigh’s WAR is already the fourth-best for a complete season.
Q. Who is Cal Raleigh’s father?
A. Raleigh’s father, Todd, previously coached at Tennessee and Western Carolina and was the one pitching to him. Raleigh’s younger brother, Todd Raleigh Jr., was the catcher.
Q. What is Cal Raleigh’s real name?
A. Caleb John Raleigh was born on November 26, 1996, and is known as “Big Dumper.” He plays as a catcher for the Seattle Mariners in Major League Baseball (MLB). Raleigh is considered one of the top power hitters, skilled catchers, and switch hitters in MLB.