Orioles’ ABS strategy in spring training feels like missing a golden opportunity

There is plenty to watch as the Baltimore Orioles tune things up down in Florida at spring training. Roster battles are being waged and prospects are looking to impress, but one thing that is noteworthy is that the Orioles have been reluctant to test the new ABS challenge system.

In case you've missed it, MLB has implemented a new Automatic Balls and Strikes challenge system which gives each team two challenges per game to use if they feel a ball or strike was called incorrectly by the home plate umpire.

MLB experimented with it last year in spring training, and now the system will be used in the regular season and the playoffs starting in 2026. Yet, for some reason, the Orioles seem reluctant to use it in spring training when this is the best time to be experimenting with it in games that do not count.

Orioles seemingly reluctant to use new ABS system in spring training

Maybe there is some strategy behind this approach that isn't easy to see. Perhaps new manager Craig Albernaz and his coaching staff wants to be more observant and see how other teams utilize the new system so they can learn that way. Perhaps the fear is that hitters, catchers, and batters may be more concerned about whether they should challenge than dialing in their mechanics or timing, so the team is just trying to remove an unnecessary headache.

At some point, the Orioles have to start taking advantage of this opportunity. This is the time to learn which batters you trust to challenge or how well your own catcher understands the strike zone. Adley Rutschman graded out as one of the 15 best pitch framers in the game last season so he should have some amount of leash to challenge if he feels a pitch was called incorrectly.

The Orioles run the risk of learning some things about the system early in the regular season that they could have learned down in Florida. Getting burned in an early regular season game because a batter makes a bad challenge that could have been avoided would reflect poorly on the new skipper.

Maybe he is trying to use the challenges judiciously since that is how a lot of teams figure to use them in the regular season. Teams will most likely try to save them for late in games if a pitch could decide a walk of a strike out or could get the team out of a jam. Whatever the rationale, the team would probably be wise to use the challenges in these exhibition games to get the mistakes out of the way now rather than later on.