Taking a look at how the Washington Nationals fared using the ABS challenge system

Sam Sallick evaluates how the Washington Nationals performed during their first season using Major League Baseball's automated ball-strike (ABS) challenge system. Sallick notes that the Nationals produced mediocre overall results, with hitters winning 45% of challenges (ranking 23rd in the league) and pitchers/catchers winning 54% (ranking 22nd). After a very rough opening month, the club gradually adjusted to the strategic nuances of the new review process as the year progressed.

Individually, CJ Abrams emerged as one of baseball's top challengers by winning 12 of 14 reviews. Behind the plate, Harry Ford led Nationals catchers with a 60% success rate, aided by prior Triple-A experience, while Keibert Ruiz finished at 56% and Drew Millas struggled at 43%. Other hitters had difficulty, including James Wood at 8 for 23, and Jorbit Vivas and Nasim Nunez each winning just three challenges.