Tigers' Skubal Shows How Team Might Use ABS Challenge System

Pitcher Tarik Skubal successfully challenges umpire's call in spring training game, providing glimpse into Detroit's strategy.

Mar. 15, 2026 at 4:51pm

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In a spring training game against the Blue Jays, Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal challenged an umpire's ball call on a pitch he believed was a strike, and the automated ball-strike (ABS) system ruled in his favor. This was the first example of the Tigers using the new ABS Challenge System, which manager A.J. Hinch had been observing his players' reactions to in the early part of spring training. Skubal's successful challenge provided a glimpse into how the Tigers might utilize the new system during the regular season, with Hinch noting that the team that best understands the strike zone will be the one that uses the ABS Challenge System most effectively.

Why it matters

The ABS Challenge System is a new feature in Major League Baseball that allows pitchers and catchers to challenge umpire calls on balls and strikes. How teams choose to strategically deploy this new tool could provide a competitive advantage, and Skubal's example shows the Tigers are thinking critically about how to best leverage the system.

The details

In the spring training game, plate umpire Vic Carapazza ruled Skubal's 1-2 fastball to the Blue Jays' Davis Schneider a ball. Skubal, who had successfully appealed a pitch during last year's All-Star Game, felt confident the pitch caught the strike zone. He signaled to his catcher Dillon Dingler to challenge the call, and the ABS system ruled the pitch a strike. Skubal said he wanted to "get a feel" for the ABS system during spring training to understand how to best "weaponize it" to the Tigers' advantage during the regular season.

  • On March 15, 2026, the Tigers played a spring training game against the Blue Jays in Dunedin, Florida.

The players

Tarik Skubal

A Tigers pitcher who successfully challenged an umpire's ball call during a spring training game, providing an early example of how the team might utilize the new ABS Challenge System.

A.J. Hinch

The Tigers' manager, who had been observing how his players were reacting to the ABS Challenge System in the early part of spring training.

Dillon Dingler

The Tigers' catcher who was about to throw the ball back to the pitcher when Skubal signaled to challenge the call.

Vic Carapazza

The plate umpire who initially ruled Skubal's pitch a ball before the ABS system overturned the call.

Davis Schneider

The Blue Jays batter who was at the plate when Skubal challenged the umpire's call.

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What they’re saying

“We have not been an aggressive team when it comes to challenges, which is something I was observing just to see how players would naturally react. I think our guys understand that it's all about the strike zone. It's not about emotion. It's not about anything beyond the strike zone. The team that has the best knowledge of the strike zone will be the team that utilizes the ABS Challenge System the best.”

— A.J. Hinch, Tigers Manager (mlb.com)

“I just thought I was pretty convicted in that pitch, and it being a strike. It was tough. We were going up, and I missed down. Those are the hard ones to gauge. But from my vantage point, I thought I got it.”

— Tarik Skubal (mlb.com)

“Those that have knowledge of the strike zone should utilize it. Because there are going to be scenarios that come into play like: Runner's going, catcher's moving, if I take it away from the pitcher, what if that pitch is something that we can challenge? There's going to be an at-bat that's not necessarily somebody hitting in the middle or the top of the order that deserves that opportunity to correct an egregious call.”

— A.J. Hinch, Tigers Manager (mlb.com)

“That's just part of the game that I think we can use to our advantage, and I know our guys are going to be really good about it and they're going to care a lot about understanding strike zones. I'll probably spend a lot of time on the iPad in game, just trying to see what the strike zone is, so that way the next time I face these guys, my visuals are right.”

— Tarik Skubal (mlb.com)

What’s next

The Tigers will continue to evaluate how their pitchers and catchers utilize the ABS Challenge System throughout the remainder of spring training, with the goal of being well-prepared to leverage the new tool to their advantage once the regular season begins.

The takeaway

Skubal's successful challenge of the umpire's call provides an early example of how the Tigers plan to strategically deploy the ABS Challenge System, with manager A.J. Hinch emphasizing that the team that best understands the strike zone will be the one that uses the new system most effectively. The Tigers appear committed to thoroughly understanding the system during spring training in order to gain a competitive edge once the regular season starts.