Xander Bogaerts is eager for the introduction of an automated ball-strike system.
This feeling came to light after the Padres player spoke to reporters following a frustrating moment in their game against the Cubs, where he was called out on a strike during a tense 3-2 count on a pitch that seemed to dip below the strike zone. Reflecting on the situation, Bogaerts expressed his disbelief: “What can I say? It’s just disappointing. That call changed the entire game. You can’t go back and redo it now. Honestly, I’m looking forward to the ABS next year.”
Immediately following Bogaerts’ incident, Cubs pitcher Brad Keller proceeded to hit the next two batters, Ryan O’Hearn and Bryce Johnson.
Ultimately, the Padres couldn’t capitalize on the situation, as the game ended with a Cubs victory, propelling them into the Division Round.
In an effort to alleviate such moments in the future, Major League Baseball plans to implement a system that allows players to dispute calls like Bogaerts encountered. This follows the recent approval of the ABS, or automated referee system, set to debut in the 2026 season.
In this setup, each team will have two challenges per game, which they maintain if they’re correct. The challenge can be initiated by the batter, pitcher, or catcher merely by tapping their helmet immediately after the pitch.
This system has already been trialed at various levels, including Triple-A, since 2022. However, despite these advancements, the Padres still fell short in 2025, marking yet another missed opportunity in their fourth postseason in the last six years.
“We had a lot of fun this season,” Bogaerts noted. “Everyone really stepped up, especially with injuries. Plus, we made some strong trades at the deadline… It was a good time overall.”
