The new Automated Ball-Strike Challenge system is only a week away from being unveiled in regulat season play. After a month of spring training preparation, the ABS system will make its formal debut during the MLB regular season. It's a big change coming to baseball, but also one that fans could immediately see the bright side of. Fewer egregious calls around the strike zone, while also keeping the pace of play on the field, is the goal. Philadelphia Phillies' catcher J.T. Realmuto is still regarded as one of the best in the sport at his position, and he's trying to adjust to this new wrinkle, just like everyone else. It's going well so far.
Every catcher is learning the specifics of each player's strike zone on the fly. There's still skill involved. The ABS strike zone measures 27 percent of the hitter's height for the bottom and 53.5 percent for the top. All zones will be 17 inches wide. According to Chad Jennings and Zack Meisel of The Athletic, Realmuto acknowledges the work needed to get acclimated to it (subscription required).
“I like it as a hitter,” Realmuto said. “As a catcher, I have mixed feelings about it. It’s hard enough doing the jobs that we have, and it just throws one more thing on our plates, but the more comfortable I get with it, I’ll end up liking it as well.”
J.T. Realmuto's newfound ABS challenge efficiency adds even more value to his game
It's going to take time getting used to, but Realmuto has already made the most of his challenges this spring, going a perfect 5-for-5 on ABS challenges behind the plate this spring. Given the nature of the new responsibility placed on MLB catchers, ones that can challenge with conviction are more valuable. Realmuto has proven early on that this new wrinkle could sway games, on top of what he already brings to the catcher position.
JT Realmuto nailed another successful ABS challenge in the top of the first.
— Jayson Stark (@jaysonst) March 17, 2026
He's now 5 for 5 on challenges this spring, turning two balls into strikeouts and two walks into strikes.
Catcher challenging skills are going to turn into the new framing this year. pic.twitter.com/RMCEJOFTfL
Realmuto may be perfect on challenges so far, but it's not realistic to expect him to stay perfect the entire regular season. A lot of major league pitchers are tossing in 95+ mph near the plate, forcing catchers to make a game-altering decision in real time. Still, every right answer presents a valuable skill to flex on the field, on top of Realmuto's existing defensive prowess. Among all MLB catchers, no other has had a better pop time to second base than Realmuto since 2017. He's led every year he's played catcher except 2015-16, in which he finished second. In 2025, per Statcast, he topped the majors with 1.83 seconds.
Realmuto also ranks in the 76th percentile when it comes to sprint speed. According to Statcast, his 28.7 ft/sec sprint speed is the second best among all catchers since 2015. One of the things that Realmuto has lacked since joining the Phillies is his framing ability. He finished in the seventh percentile in 2025. For Realmuto's sake, it is a growing question of whether framing will have the same impact with every call being subject to possible reversal.
Realmuto still brings the Phillies a lot from the catcher position, even at 35 years old. Realmuto can still hit, but it's his ability to throw out runners while still playing 130+ games a year that makes him special. If he also keeps up the pace of the ABS success rate, the Phillies have a massive difference maker, helping out both himself and the Phillies' pitching staff.