While the Phillies have struggled to find their footing on the field this young season, they've been surprisingly adept at one of MLB's newest and most unprecedented challenges. It's impossible to know if their overall luck can change, but at least the new ABS challenge system has given them a sign of life.
One thing's become clear in the early going: designated hitter Kyle Schwarber and catcher J.T. Realmuto know their way around the strike zone. Phillies fans were curious to see how the club would respond to the new challenge system, and it's gone better than expected for some key veterans on the roster. With Realmuto currently battling a foot bruise, hopefully the Phillies' early successes don't get interrupted.
Phillies' Kyle Schwarber and J.T. Realmuto have led the way when it comes to the ABS era in MLB
There's a big difference between accepting what the umpires call and contesting balls and strikes on the spot. It's been a major change that has received some positive feedback from across the league. It's now open season for all batters, pitchers, and catchers to challenge any pitch they want, limited to the two that each team gets at the start of a game; when you lose one, you lose it forever. Thankfully, the Phillies have taken advantage rather than fallen behind.
Schwarber is always among the league leaders in walks due to his keen eye at the plate. His decision-making has only gotten better with the ability to appeal pitches in real time. According to Statcast, Schwarber and his five challenges tie for the most of any hitter in MLB. He's tied with the Minnesota Twins' Josh Bell and the Atlanta Braves' Ronald Acuña Jr. He's also 4-for-5 (80 percent) on those attempts, the highest overturn rate in MLB.
Realmuto has been as effective as Schwarber, except for overturning calls from behind the plate. Catchers easily challenge the most of the three eligible parties, but Realmuto has limited himself to just five challenges. That's far behind Twins' Ryan Jeffers at 15, but Realmuto has remained a perfect 5-for-5 on his calls. Realmuto may not be the same offensive player he was before, but the ABS system could really make him much more valuable to the Phillies from the defensive side.
Overall, the sport has seen a 54 percent overturn rate on challenge attempts in its inaugural season, 48 percent from hitters and 60 percent from fielders. Thanks to Schwarber and Realmuto, the Phillies have been one of the league's best at the new ABS system. As a team, the Phillies' fielders rank second with an 82 percent overturn rate, while the Phillies' hitters sport a 55 percent overturn rate, 10th best in MLB.
It's still early into the ABS era of MLB, but the Phillies have shown their ability to manage the strike zone well and challenge effectively as a result. Schwarber and Realmuto have been among the best in the sport at utilizing it, and hopefully that remains the same as the season progresses.