The automated ball-strike (ABS) system has been implemented in Major League Baseball this year and here, on just the fifth day of the regular season, we have our first ABS-related ejection. Twins manager Derek Shelton was the lucky victim in the ninth inning of an eventual 8-6 loss to the Orioles.
Orioles closer Ryan Helsley appeared to walk batter Josh Bell, which would’ve put the tying run on base and brought the go-ahead run to the plate. Helsley challenged the ball and it was overturned for a strikeout. Shelton argued that Helsley didn’t challenge quickly enough. Here’s the call:
The rule states that challenges need to happen immediately, with the rough guideline being about two seconds. It sure looks like Helsley went to tap his head in the amount of time that I’d call