Chris Sale Says He'll 'Never' Challenge Umpires' Ball-Strike Calls

The 9-time All-Star pitcher believes it's the umpire's job, not his, to make those decisions.

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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Chris Sale, a 9-time MLB All-Star and 2024 NL Cy Young winner, says he will never challenge umpires' ball-strike calls, even as the league implements a new ABS Challenge System. Sale believes it's the umpire's job, not the pitcher's, to make those decisions. He also expressed concerns about getting a challenge wrong and costing his team a crucial challenge later in the game.

Why it matters

Sale's stance on not challenging ball-strike calls goes against the trend of players increasingly testing the limits of the new ABS Challenge System. As one of the game's elite pitchers, Sale's decision could influence how other players approach the new rule change.

The details

Sale praised the framing abilities of Atlanta Braves catchers Sean Murphy and Drake Baldwin, suggesting he trusts his catchers to get borderline pitches called strikes. He also admitted he's 'greedy' and believes most pitches around the corners are strikes, even if the umpire calls them balls. Despite his competitive nature, Sale is steadfast in his decision to never challenge ball-strike calls.

  • MLB instituted its new ABS Challenge System ahead of the 2026 season.

The players

Chris Sale

A 9-time MLB All-Star pitcher and 2024 NL Cy Young award winner who has vowed to never challenge umpires' ball-strike calls.

Sean Murphy

The Atlanta Braves' starting catcher, known for his pitch framing abilities.

Drake Baldwin

A rookie catcher for the Atlanta Braves who has also shown strong pitch framing skills.

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What they’re saying

“I'm not an umpire. That's their job. I'm a starting pitcher. I've never called balls and strikes in my life.”

— Chris Sale (mlb.com)

“I'm greedy, and I know that. I think they're all strikes. … I like pitches that are around the corner that might be a little off.”

— Chris Sale (mlb.com)

What’s next

It will be interesting to see if Sale sticks to his stated plan of never challenging ball-strike calls, especially in high-pressure situations where a successful challenge could benefit his team.

The takeaway

Chris Sale's refusal to challenge umpires' ball-strike calls, even as MLB implements a new challenge system, highlights the different approaches players may take to the new rule. Sale's stance could influence how other pitchers handle the ABS Challenge System going forward.