PHOENIX — Major League Baseball’s latest innovation, the automated ball-strike (ABS) challenge system, has stirred a range of opinions from players, coaches, and fans during Spring Training, ahead of its official implementation this season. Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Ryan Thompson has expressed skepticism about the new system’s effect on the game’s flow and fairness.
The ABS challenge enables pitchers, catchers, and batters to contest pitch calls, granting an opportunity to overturn disputed balls or strikes. Designed to enhance accuracy and fairness, the system reflects MLB’s ongoing efforts to modernize the sport.
How the New Pitch Review Process Has Impacted Play So Far
During 2026 Spring Training at Salt River Fields in Scottsdale, players have experienced frequent pauses as officials review the exact location where a pitch crossed the plate. Although some applaud the interruptions for aiding in precise rulings, Thompson questions whether the benefits outweigh the interruptions.
The funny part about the challenge system is that just a couple years ago we were shaving off as many seconds off the game time as possible even at the risk of injuries and now we literally pause the game multiple times to see if the umpire was wrong by 0.1 inches.
— Ryan Thompson (@R_Thompson15) March 2, 2026
His concern centers on the irony that the league once aggressively sought to speed up play, but now allows frequent stoppages to dispute extremely narrow margins on pitch calls.
Just don’t come complaining when we consistently play 3 hr games again lol
— Ryan Thompson (@R_Thompson15) March 2, 2026
Balancing Faster Games with Enhanced Accuracy
Three seasons ago, MLB introduced measures such as the pitch clock and limits on mound visits to quicken game pace, resulting in shorter contests and heightened fan engagement. These changes benefited players and viewers alike by reducing downtime.
However, the new challenge system’s extended reviews could slow games back down, potentially restoring longer playtime in exchange for precise calls. Given how crucial close calls can shift game momentum, ABS aims to ensure these moments are ruled correctly.
On September 26, 2025, during a game at Petco Park against the San Diego Padres, Ryan Thompson demonstrated his pitching skills amid these evolving game rules, showing how pitchers might experience the impact of frequent interruptions firsthand.
Potential Disruptions to Game Rhythm and Player Focus
Review stoppages may also affect players’ rhythm, particularly pitchers who rely on momentum to maintain control over their performance. Thompson’s comments highlight the uncertainty about how these pauses might influence in-game dynamics when the regular season begins.
At Truist Park in Atlanta on June 3, 2025, Thompson was involved in decisive defensive plays, illustrating the critical nature of split-second decisions and calls in baseball.
As Opening Day approaches, observers will see whether the temporary delays in play are an acceptable compromise for the level of accuracy that the ABS challenge promises, especially when decisions hinge on discrepancies as narrow as tenths of an inch.
The funny part about the challenge system is that just a couple years ago we were shaving off as many seconds off the game time as possible even at the risk of injuries and now we literally pause the game multiple times to see if the umpire was wrong by 0.1 inches.
— Ryan Thompson (@R_Thompson15) March 2, 2026
Just don’t come complaining when we consistently play 3 hr games again lol
— Ryan Thompson (@R_Thompson15) March 2, 2026
