NEWNow you can listen to Pak Gazette articles!
New York Yankees shortstop José Caballero made MLB history on Wednesday: He became the first player to use the Automated Ball Striking System (ABS).
During the fourth inning of the Yankees’ 7–0 Opening Day victory over the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park, Caballero challenged home plate umpire Bill Miller’s strike call after Giants starter Logan Webb threw a sinker at the top of the zone.
Caballero, 29, touched his head to initiate the challenge and appeal the strike call, but lost the challenge. The Automated Ball Striking System’s 12 Hawk-Eye cameras showed Webb sinking at 90.7 mph in the zone.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON PakGazette.Com
Jose Caballero (72) of the New York Yankees runs to first after hitting a one-run double in the second inning during the game between the New York Yankees and the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park in San Francisco, California, on March 25, 2026. (Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
Despite losing the challenge, he was convinced of his decision.
“No, I wanted to try it,” Caballero said.
Gentleman thought it was a little higher than shown, but is a fan of the ABS system despite his failed appeal.
“I think it’s really good that everyone is responsible,” he added. “It gives us a chance to really see how good (we are) with the zone or not. I wish it was the other way around, I’m trying to get the override, but I didn’t get it this time.”
BASEBALL HALL OF FAME PITCHER DETAILS HOW ABS SYSTEM WILL IMPROVE OFFENSE, HOW ARMS SHOULD ADJUST
Jazz Chisholm Jr., left, and Jose Caballero, right, of the New York Yankees are congratulated by Austin Wells (28) after they both scored on Ryan McMahon’s two-run single against the San Francisco Giants during the second inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, California, on March 25, 2026. (Jeff Chiu/AP Photo)
Caballero’s challenge was the only one of the match. The Yankees were up 5-0 at the time of the challenge.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone said he has tried to be direct with the feedback he has given players regarding their challenges.
“We’ve had a lot of dialogue about it. It’s something we’ve invested a lot in, certainly,” Boone said. “It’s become one of the things where I’ve tried to lead the charge a little bit. Another kind of end-of-spring meeting with all the position players and receivers at the end just going over the different ones that came up and giving my opinion on it. I’ve been very direct with them throughout the spring until after the fact, whether I thought one was really good or, conversely, whether one was terrible.”
“I’ve tried to be very direct with them and explain why,” he said. “I feel like we’re going to be good at it, that’s the expectation. I’m sure we’ll continue to evolve with that.”
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE Pak Gazette APP
New York Yankees shortstop José Caballero (72) throws the ball to first to record one out against the San Francisco Giants in the ninth inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco, California, on March 25, 2026. (Cary Edmondson/Image Images)
Teams receive two challenges per game, but if they manage to challenge a decision, they retain it. But if the challenge is not successful, you lose it. The Yankees were then left with a challenge for the rest of the game after Caballero’s failed attempt in the fourth inning.
Caballero, who went 1 for 4 with one RBI and one run scored, drove in the first run of the 2026 MLB season with a single that scored Giancarlo Stanton in the second inning.
The Yankees (1-0) will look to continue their strong start when they take on the Giants (0-1) on Friday at 4:35 p.m. ET.
