Baseball Hall of Famer John Smoltz says he supports MLB’s ABS challenge system as it stands—two challenges per game—but he’s “begging and pleading” it never becomes full-time automation on every pitch. Smoltz warns the sport “will suffer,” arguing hitters will
John Smoltz likes the way baseball looks right now: teams get two chances to challenge the ABS system, and the game keeps moving.
But he also sounds uneasy about where that technology could go next.
Smoltz—59. a World Series champion and a Baseball Hall of Famer—said he hopes ABS never turns into a full-time. automated system where all pitches are handled by the technology. He called the challenge setup a “big success” for Major League Baseball. and he told Fox News Digital in a recent interview that the system’s current limits are the reason it works.
“I like it. It has definitely changed the game and we’re going to have to have some kind of correct system. Meaning, I like it with two challenges only,” Smoltz said.
Then he made his plea sharper.
“I like the fact that it’s only a challenge system. I’m begging and pleading that it never goes to a full-time system. Baseball will suffer and not be the same and it’ll be impossible to hit.”
Under the current format Smoltz referenced, teams have two challenges per game. If they win their challenge, they retain it.
His warning doesn’t come from rejecting ABS—he said he likes it as is. Instead, Smoltz pointed to the side effects he believes come with more automated accuracy and fewer “let it slide” moments from pitchers.
“The swing rate has gone down, the walk rates gone through the roof. That’s a problem. but that’s a byproduct of pitchers also not being able to command the baseball. ” Smoltz said. “They’ve gotten away with being able to chuck it in the zone. And now the hitters are becoming more aware and the catchers and all the nuance that that comes into play.”.
He backed the swing-and-walk shift with numbers from Fangraphs. Last season, hitters swung at 47.5% of pitches and walked 8.4% of the time. This season, hitters are swinging at 46.9% of pitches and walking 9.2% of the time.
Smoltz’s concerns land with extra weight because he wasn’t just watching from the stands. He said he would have used the ABS system to his benefit.
Before his Hall of Fame career ended, Smoltz spent 21 seasons in the big leagues. Twenty of those seasons came with the Braves. He played his last season with the St. Louis Cardinals and Boston Red Sox.
His career record sits at 213-155 with a 3.33 ERA and 154 saves. After Tommy John surgery, Smoltz transitioned into a reliever for a few seasons.
Now, even as he participates in current competition—the American Century Championship at Edgewood Golf Course in Lake Tahoe from July 10-12—Smoltz continues to argue about what baseball should protect as it adopts new tools.
That tournament is scheduled to be broadcast on NBC and Peacock.
Smoltz’s message about ABS is consistent: fix the calls, keep the system limited, and don’t let the technology take over the entire texture of the game.
John Smoltz ABS challenge system Major League Baseball automated strike zone hitting pitchers Fangraphs walk rate swing rate World Series champion
So basically hitting is harder now, got it.
I don’t even understand ABS but I feel like it’s ruining the whole vibe. Two challenges per game sounds fair though. If it’s every pitch then yeah, hitters never stand a chance.
Wait, Smoltz is saying ABS is good but also “begging” they don’t automate it more? Wouldn’t more accuracy help everyone? Also swing rate going down… isn’t that just pitchers being better? People act like the system is the reason for everything.
This is why MLB can’t leave stuff alone. Next they’ll have robots calling balls and strikes and we’ll just watch software. Walk rates through the roof? I mean if the pitches aren’t in the zone then why are hitters complaining, but I also get what he means about “let it slide” like in the old days. Anyway, I’m tired of tech taking over everything.