MLB · 1 hour ago

MLB ABS Tracker: 2026 Challenge Success Rate Rankings for All 30 Teams

Joe Cervenka

Host · Writer

Have Your Say on MLB's ABS Challenge System
We are witnessing a massive shift in how baseball is played and managed. What used to be a heated argument with an umpire is now mostly a silent, high-tech wait for a graphic on the big screen. The data shows a huge gap; the Royals are winning 62% of their challenges, while the Nationals are stuck at 40%.

We want to hear from you:
- The Accuracy Gap: Why do you think some teams like the Royals and Tigers are so much better at this than others? Is it better coaching, or do their catchers just have better eyes?
- The Flow Factor: Does the challenge system disrupt the vibe of the game for you, or do you enjoy the extra layer of strategy?
- Human vs. Machine: Now that we see how often the umpires actually get it wrong (and right), do you want a 100% automated zone, or should we keep the human umpire with the challenge option?
- Your Squad: Is your favorite team a Tactical Genius or are they Burning Bullets on obvious strikes?
Drop your take in the comments! Has the ABS system changed the way you react to a close pitch? Let's talk balls and strikes.
MLB ABS Tracker: Breaking Down All 30 Teams’ Success Rates
The age-old argument over the human element of the strike zone is officially being decided by data. Major League Baseball’s high-tech makeover is no longer just a pilot program; it’s a fundamental part of the game’s strategic fabric. By integrating Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) technology, the league is replacing the coin-flip call with aerospace-grade precision.

Driven by the Hawk-Eye tracking system, this isn't a complete robot takeover. Instead, it’s a high-speed judicial review. The human umpire remains the authority, but the ABS Challenge System serves as the ultimate check-and-balance, ensuring that the integrity of a high-stakes plate appearance remains intact.

The Hybrid Model: Precision Under Pressure

The Challenge Loop is simple but high-stakes. If a pitcher, catcher, or batter thinks the umpire missed the mark, they signal for a review. Hawk-Eye analyzes the flight path in real-time. If the call is overturned, the team keeps its challenge. If it stands? That digital receipt is gone for the rest of the game.

By limiting these challenges, MLB has turned accuracy into a finite resource. Teams can’t just argue every borderline pitch; they have to be tactical.

As of the games completed on Wednesday, May 6, the data shows a clear divide between teams that are mastering this new skill and those still guessing.

Let’s dive into the updated rankings to see which teams are winning the battle for the zone.
1. Kansas City Royals
- Challenges: 78
- Challenges Won: 48
- Challenges Lost: 30
- Won/Overturn Rate: 62%
The Royals have surged to the top spot, proving that their elite discipline wasn't a fluke. They are among the most active teams in the league, yet they maintain a massive 62% success rate. KC is currently the gold standard for knowing exactly where the invisible line is.
2. Detroit Tigers
- Challenges: 68
- Challenges Won: 42
- Challenges Lost: 26
- Won/Overturn Rate: 62%
Detroit is nipping at the Royals' heels. While they challenge slightly less often, their efficiency is identical. Interestingly, their fielding challenges (pitchers/catchers) are almost perfect, showing an incredible connection between the battery and the bench.
3. Arizona Diamondbacks
- Challenges: 58
- Challenges Won: 36
- Challenges Lost: 22
- Won/Overturn Rate: 62%
The Diamondbacks have dropped a few spots in total value but remain incredibly efficient. When they challenge, they are usually right. Their 62% win rate is tied for the best in the majors, suggesting a very conservative but accurate strategy.
4. San Diego Padres
- Challenges: 72
- Challenges Won: 44
- Challenges Lost: 28
- Won/Overturn Rate: 61%
The Padres are punching above their weight class in efficiency. While they aren't the highest-volume team, their 61% success rate is among the best in the sport. They rarely waste a bullet.
5. Cincinnati Reds
- Challenges: 61
- Challenges Won: 37
- Challenges Lost: 24
- Won/Overturn Rate: 61%
The Reds are mirroring the Padres' strategy. They are selective, but highly accurate. This discipline is a huge asset for a young team trying to navigate the tight margins of the NL Central.
6. Chicago Cubs
- Challenges: 77
- Challenges Won: 46
- Challenges Lost: 31
- Won/Overturn Rate: 60%
The Cubs have one of the best eyes in the National League. Winning 60% of their challenges is elite territory. They are successfully filtering out the bad calls while keeping their challenge intact for late-game drama.
7. Los Angeles Dodgers
- Challenges: 69
- Challenges Won: 40
- Challenges Lost: 29
- Won/Overturn Rate: 58%
The Dodgers are surprisingly conservative, but it’s working. They’ve only challenged 69 times, but they’ve won 40 of them (58%). They are waiting for the egregious misses before they signal.
8. St. Louis Cardinals
- Challenges: 71
- Challenges Won: 41
- Challenges Lost: 30
- Won/Overturn Rate: 58%
The Cardinals have improved their efficiency lately. A 58% win rate puts them in the top ten of the league, showing that their bench coaches and catchers are starting to dial in the Hawk-Eye zone.
9. Texas Rangers
- Challenges: 59
- Challenges Won: 34
- Challenges Lost: 25
- Won/Overturn Rate: 58%
The Rangers are one of the more conservative teams in the top ten. They rarely challenge (just 59 times), but they are often right when they do. This suggests they might actually benefit from being a bit more aggressive.

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10. Athletics
- Challenges: 85
- Challenges Won: 48
- Challenges Lost: 37
- Won/Overturn Rate: 56%
The A’s are actually quite good at challenging; they’ve won 56% of their attempts. However, in terms of overall value added to their games, their challenge success rate is higher than their win rate (18-18).
11. New York Mets
- Challenges: 68
- Challenges Won: 38
- Challenges Lost: 30
- Won/Overturn Rate: 56%
The Mets remain steady in the top ten. They’ve found a solid rhythm, particularly when their hitters are at the plate. A 56% success rate means they are more likely than not to get the call they want when they point to the headset.
12. Minnesota Twins
- Challenges: 99
- Challenges Won: 54
- Challenges Lost: 45
- Won/Overturn Rate: 55%
No team is more trigger-happy than the Twins. Already approaching the 100-challenge mark, Minnesota is leaning heavily on the tech. They’ve successfully overturned 54 calls, the highest raw number in MLB, effectively rewriting dozens of innings in their favor.
13. Houston Astros
- Challenges: 80
- Challenges Won: 43
- Challenges Lost: 37
- Won/Overturn Rate: 54%
Houston is hanging around the top ten with a very balanced attack. They are equally adept as hitters and fielders, maintaining a consistent 54% success rate across 80 total attempts.
14. Seattle Mariners
- Challenges: 80
- Challenges Won: 43
- Challenges Lost: 37
- Won/Overturn Rate: 54%
The Mariners are making the most of the high-volume strategy. While their overall value ranking has slipped, they still maintain a solid 54% success rate on 80 total challenges.
15. Los Angeles Angels
- Challenges: 89
- Challenges Won: 47
- Challenges Lost: 42
- Won/Overturn Rate: 53%
The Angels are another high-volume team. They aren't afraid to burn a challenge early if they think they can steal a strike back. It’s a high-variance strategy, but with 47 wins, it’s keeping them in plenty of counts.
16. Baltimore Orioles
- Challenges: 72
- Challenges Won: 38
- Challenges Lost: 34
- Won/Overturn Rate: 53%
The Orioles are hovering just above the .500 mark in the challenge game. They’ve had 38 successful overturns, which has likely saved them a few runs in the competitive AL East.
17. Miami Marlins
- Challenges: 91
- Challenges Won: 48
- Challenges Lost: 43
- Won/Overturn Rate: 53%
The Marlins are taking the volume approach. With 91 total challenges, they are aggressive, but they are winning enough (48) to justify the strategy. They currently lead the NL East in successful overturns, even if their percentage is lower than the top teams.
18. Pittsburgh Pirates
- Challenges: 74
- Challenges Won: 39
- Challenges Lost: 35
- Won/Overturn Rate: 53%
Pittsburgh is staying aggressive. They’ve used 74 challenges so far, winning 39 of them. They are leaning into the tech to help their young pitching staff get every strike they deserve.
19. Tampa Bay Rays
- Challenges: 78
- Challenges Won: 41
- Challenges Lost: 37
- Won/Overturn Rate: 53%
For a team known for optimizing every tiny detail, the Rays are surprisingly average here. They challenge often (78 times) but are winning at a standard 53% clip.
20. Toronto Blue Jays
- Challenges: 80
- Challenges Won: 42
- Challenges Lost: 38
- Won/Overturn Rate: 53%
The Blue Jays are sitting in a comfortable spot, winning 53% of their 80 challenges. They’ve been particularly active with their hitters, trying to ensure their stars aren't being rung up on questionable pitches.
21. New York Yankees
- Challenges: 88
- Challenges Won: 46
- Challenges Lost: 42
- Won/Overturn Rate: 52%
The Yankees are using the challenge system frequently, but the results are middling. Winning 46 out of 88 isn't enough to move the needle and overcome other data points, leaving them ranked in the bottom 10.
22. Philadelphia Phillies
- Challenges: 69
- Challenges Won: 36
- Challenges Lost: 33
- Won/Overturn Rate: 52%
The Phillies are the definition of middling. With a 52% success rate, they are slightly better than a coin flip when they ask for a review.
23. Colorado Rockies
- Challenges: 98
- Challenges Won: 51
- Challenges Lost: 47
- Won/Overturn Rate: 52%
The Rockies are second only to the Twins in volume. They are constantly testing the system. While they’ve won 51 times, the 47 losses show that the thin air in Colorado might be playing tricks on their eyes, too.
24. Atlanta Braves
- Challenges: 86
- Challenges Won: 43
- Challenges Lost: 43
- Won/Overturn Rate: 50%
The Braves are the ultimate split. 43 wins, 43 losses. It is a perfect 50/50 toss-up when Atlanta signals for a challenge. They haven't quite mastered the nuances of the automated zone yet.
25. Milwaukee Brewers
- Challenges: 80
- Challenges Won: 39
- Challenges Lost: 41
- Won/Overturn Rate: 49%
The Brewers have dipped into the negative category. By losing 41 of their 80 challenges, they are more likely to lose their challenge for the game than to have a call overturned.
26. Boston Red Sox
- Challenges: 45
- Challenges Won: 21
- Challenges Lost: 24
- Won/Overturn Rate: 47%
The Red Sox are the least active team in the majors when it comes to challenges. With only 45 total attempts, they aren't engaging with the system much, and when they do, they are below 50%.
27. San Francisco Giants
- Challenges: 73
- Challenges Won: 34
- Challenges Lost: 39
- Won/Overturn Rate: 47%
The Giants are finding it hard to get on the right side of the Hawk-Eye data. Winning only 47% of their challenges means they are burning more outs than they are gaining.
28. Cleveland Guardians
- Challenges: 76
- Challenges Won: 35
- Challenges Lost: 41
- Won/Overturn Rate: 46%
Cleveland’s discipline, usually a hallmark of the team, hasn't translated to the ABS system yet. They’ve lost 41 challenges, ranking them near the bottom for efficiency.
29. Chicago White Sox
- Challenges: 91
- Challenges Won: 39
- Challenges Lost: 52
- Won/Overturn Rate: 43%
The White Sox sit near the bottom of the rankings. Despite being very aggressive (91 challenges), they have the most losses in MLB with 52. They consistently misjudge the zone, which only adds to their struggles on the field.
30. Washington Nationals
- Challenges: 60
- Challenges Won: 24
- Challenges Lost: 36
- Won/Overturn Rate: 40%
The Nationals are struggling. A 40% win rate is the lowest in baseball. When they signal for a review, they are losing that challenge 60% of the time, often leaving them defenseless in late-inning situations.
Have Your Say on MLB's ABS Challenge System
We are witnessing a massive shift in how baseball is played and managed. What used to be a heated argument with an umpire is now mostly a silent, high-tech wait for a graphic on the big screen. The data shows a huge gap; the Royals are winning 62% of their challenges, while the Nationals are stuck at 40%.

We want to hear from you:
- The Accuracy Gap: Why do you think some teams like the Royals and Tigers are so much better at this than others? Is it better coaching, or do their catchers just have better eyes?
- The Flow Factor: Does the challenge system disrupt the vibe of the game for you, or do you enjoy the extra layer of strategy?
- Human vs. Machine: Now that we see how often the umpires actually get it wrong (and right), do you want a 100% automated zone, or should we keep the human umpire with the challenge option?
- Your Squad: Is your favorite team a Tactical Genius or are they Burning Bullets on obvious strikes?
Drop your take in the comments! Has the ABS system changed the way you react to a close pitch? Let's talk balls and strikes.
MLB ABS Tracker: Breaking Down All 30 Teams’ Success Rates
The age-old argument over the human element of the strike zone is officially being decided by data. Major League Baseball’s high-tech makeover is no longer just a pilot program; it’s a fundamental part of the game’s strategic fabric. By integrating Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) technology, the league is replacing the coin-flip call with aerospace-grade precision.

Driven by the Hawk-Eye tracking system, this isn't a complete robot takeover. Instead, it’s a high-speed judicial review. The human umpire remains the authority, but the ABS Challenge System serves as the ultimate check-and-balance, ensuring that the integrity of a high-stakes plate appearance remains intact.

The Hybrid Model: Precision Under Pressure

The Challenge Loop is simple but high-stakes. If a pitcher, catcher, or batter thinks the umpire missed the mark, they signal for a review. Hawk-Eye analyzes the flight path in real-time. If the call is overturned, the team keeps its challenge. If it stands? That digital receipt is gone for the rest of the game.

By limiting these challenges, MLB has turned accuracy into a finite resource. Teams can’t just argue every borderline pitch; they have to be tactical.

As of the games completed on Wednesday, May 6, the data shows a clear divide between teams that are mastering this new skill and those still guessing.

Let’s dive into the updated rankings to see which teams are winning the battle for the zone.

MLB ABS Tracker: 2026 Challenge Success Rate Rankings for All 30 Teams

The Hybrid Model: Precision Under Pressure

The Hybrid Model: Precision Under Pressure

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