Jesús Luzardo of the Philadelphia Phillies entered spring training with a clear plan: he wasn’t going to use the league’s new automated ball-strike (ABS) challenge system. Instead, the left-hander said he would rely completely on his catchers especially J.T. Realmuto to decide when a pitch should be challenged.
During his first spring training start, Luzardo found himself in trouble in the opening inning against the Boston Red Sox. Facing designated hitter Connor Wong with a full count, Luzardo fired what he believed was a strike. The umpire instead called ball four, allowing Wong to reach base.
Convinced the pitch clipped the zone, Luzardo immediately began tapping his helmet the signal used to initiate an ABS challenge.
“I told Realmuto I’d never challenge one all year, and I didn’t even last an inning,” Luzardo joked afterward, according to MLB.com’s Paul Casella. “I think I’ve got to tell myself to stop a little bit, but I’m for sure leaving it in his hands. I trust him completely.”
Realmuto was already signaling for the challenge as well, showing he agreed with his pitcher’s assessment. After a brief review using the ABS system, the call was overturned and the pitch was ruled a strike, erasing the walk.
While the moment drew laughs in the Phillies clubhouse, it also highlighted the trust between Luzardo and his catchers as the team adjusts to the experimental challenge system being tested during spring training.
The Phillies expect Luzardo to play a major role in their rotation this season. With ace Zack Wheeler currently sidelined due to injury, Luzardo and fellow left-hander Cristopher Sánchez are expected to shoulder a larger share of the workload early in the year.
