Last week, Major League Baseball announced that it will implement the Automated Balls and Strikes challenge system (ABS) in 2026. The Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, which introduced the system in 2019, achieved success with it. The system expanded beyond the ALPB to the Arizona Fall League in 2021, and as of 2023, has been incorporated at all Triple-A stadiums, where more than half of the challenge calls were successful last year.
In 2025, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred initiated this expansion by introducing the ABS challenge system in 13 spring training ballparks, which were home to over 19 clubs. Additionally, MLB incorporated the system into the All-Star game in Atlanta, where Cal Raleigh successfully challenged a pitch for the first time in an MLB game.
In addition to catcher J.T. Realmuto and some Phillies pitchers, there will be a massive upside for some of the team's most important bats, outside the stars. According to Baseball America, three Phillies, all of whom will definitely be in a Phillies uniform next year, could see the ABS challenge system alter their time at the dish even more in their favor.
Which Phillies could benefit most from MLB's ABS challenge system?
Bryson Stott
The one everyday player whose game will change instrumentally should be second baseman Bryson Stott. His plate discipline is getting keener with each year of MLB experience. When looking at the data provided by Baseball America, Stott's 46.14 percent called strike rate in the shadow zone is higher than the league average of 42-43 percent.
With Stott's patience at the plate getting better, so too has his on-base percentage, seeing more pitches per plate appearance this year than any before in his major league tenure. He also has noticeably reduced his tendency to attack first pitches, resulting in a higher walk rate. If he continues to read the ball well, with next year's implementation of the ABS challenge system, he should get even more help when trying to find good pitches to hit selectively.
Edmundo Sosa
With everyone seemingly on board to "Love Sosa," as his walk-up song says, another slugger who has been a massive contributor to the Phillies' success this season is none other than super utility man Edmundo Sosa.
While his sample size is obviously smaller than that of Stott's, with 144 called pitches in the shadow zone, his percentage of called strikes in the shadow zone is even higher at 50.69 percent. With the way Sosa has been swinging it this year, in addition to his versatile defense, he's become one of the Phillies' best assets on either side of the ball.
Johan Rojas
The last, and perhaps most surprising name on Baseball America's list is Phillies speedy outfielder Johan Rojas. Known for his elite defense, the ABS challenge system will help him as he sees 53.57 percent of his taken shadow zone pitches called strikes.
Rojas, whose performance with the team's big-league club this season was average at best, despite always causing chaos on the basepaths with his incredible speed. Whether the 25-year-old outfielder spends the beginning of the 2026 season in South Philadelphia or Lehigh Valley remains to be seen, but whichever team Rojas is playing for, he will reap the benefits of the ABS challenge system.