Manager Hinch's Tigers Win Thanks to Strong Team Chemistry in ABS

LAKELAND, FL – Ready or not, the automated ball-strike challenge system – ABS, for short – is coming to MLB in the 2026 season, with every team receiving two challenges per game. The Detroit Tigers are still figuring out their plan. Some teams will implement strategies agreed upon by everyone in the clubhouse, others will enforce strict rules that limit certain players and a few might invite chaos without any restrictions.

"We had a meeting about the experience so far – some of the questions, some of the opportunities, some of the missed opportunities," said manager A. J. Hinch , who held a meeting Friday, March 13, before a spring training game.

"We're just trying to work through what's the best way to use our challenges. We had a really good discussion about it. " FROM 2025 SPRING: How do Tigers like ABS challenge system?

'It's coming to the big leagues' For now, the message from Hinch is simple. It's all about the strike zone. "The team that has the best knowledge of the strike zone will be the team that utilizes the ABS challenge system the best," Hinch said.