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The Automated Balls and Strikes (ABS) system has provided its own set of challenges during the 2026 season, but players and managers alike have learned that in baseball it is the truth as long as the umpire can see that a challenge has been made.
Two-time All-Star Brandon Lowe learned the hard way during the Pittsburgh Pirates’ 10-9 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Saturday. He flied out in the fourth inning and was ejected.
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Pittsburgh Pirates’ Brandon Lowe rounds the bases after hitting a three-run home run off Chicago Cubs pitcher Jameson Taillon during the third inning in Pittsburgh on May 27, 2026. (Gene J. Puskar/AP)
Lowe tried to contest a strike in the bottom of the fourth inning. Home plate umpire Alex Tosi didn’t look at Lowe as he tapped his helmet to signal a challenge. Tosi declined the challenge and appeared to explain to Pirates manager Don Kelly why he wasn’t granted it.
When Lowe swung first on the fly ball, first base umpire Jordan Baker ejected him. It was Lowe’s first ejection in his career.
“I guess it was kind of a sad first ejection, if you look at ejections as a whole,” he said via MLB.com. “But yeah, I was just frustrated with myself, I let my frustration out, and they threw me out for it. I didn’t even realize I’d been thrown out until I was about three-quarters of the way back to the dugout, and I saw (hitting coach Jonny Tucker) pointing toward first base.”
Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Brandon Lowe is congratulated by first baseman Spencer Horwitz after hitting a solo home run against the St. Louis Cardinals during the first inning at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri, on May 21, 2026. (Jeff Curry/Image Images)
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Kelly told reporters it was explained to him that the challenge was dismissed because it was determined to be influenced by the dugout.
“That was totally, like Jordan didn’t understand what (Lowe) was saying, and I thought he totally overreacted,” Kelly said. “Lowe was upset because he thought he swung at the four ball, and Jordan thought he was yelling at the home plate umpire, and it was a total misunderstanding.”
Pittsburgh Pirates’ Brandon Lowe celebrates with Konnor Griffin after they both scored on Bryan Reynolds’ double off Chicago Cubs pitcher Jordan Wicks during the first inning in Pittsburgh on May 26, 2026. (Gene J. Puskar/AP)
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Lowe leads the Pirates in home runs with 14. He was 1-for-3 with a run scored before being ejected from the game.
