MLB Teams' ABS Challenge Success Rate Stats Revealed After Opening Month of 2026 Season

The New York Mets might be tied for last place in the National League East, but they're at least tied for first in one notable category.

According to The Athletic's Zack Meisel, the Mets are one of three teams with a 63 percent success rate on ABS challenges along with the Chicago Cubs and Kansas City Royals. The Washington Nationals are at the bottom end, having successfully challenged just 39 percent of calls behind the plate.

Team-By-Team ABS Breakdown

Team	Success Rate
Angels	53%
Astros	52%
Athletics	57%
Blue Jays	51%
Braves	45%
Brewers	55%
Cardinals	59%
Cubs	63%
Diamondbacks	62%
Dodgers	60%
Giants	44%
Guardians	42%
Mariners	57%
Marlins	53%
Mets	63%
Nationals	39%
Orioles	49%
Padres	58%
Phillies	53%
Pirates	49%
Rangers	57%
Rays	51%
Red Sox	53%
Reds	60%
Rockies	55%
Royals	63%
Tigers	59%
Twins	55%
White Sox	47%
Yankees	50%

Altogether, ABS challenges have been correct 54 percent of the time. Not surprisingly, there's a notable gap between how often catchers have been right compared to pitchers and hitters:

Position-By-Position ABS Breakdown

Position	Success Rate
Hitters	46%
Catchers	61%
Pitchers	42%

"The catcher, we have the best seat in the house," said Tigers manager A.J. Hinch, who was a catcher for seven seasons. "It's right there for you."

Umpires were getting more accurate with their balls and strikes in 2025, and now there's an objective measure to see where a pitch crossed the plate. Those two factors are diminishing the significance of pitch framing for catchers.

Knowing when and when not to challenge could be something that helps to set apart players at the position, though. Some catchers are bound to have a better understanding of the strike zone than others, and there's clear value in that.

In general, giving teams two ABS challenges at the start of the game presents a gamesmanship aspect. Is it worth it to challenge a close pitch early in a game? What about early into a count or if nobody is on base?

Baltimore Orioles manager Craig Albernaz said this is something his team is working through early into the season.

"Where we get hurt on it is when our guys become emotional and use challenges at the wrong time, where it's not ending the at-bat," he said, per Meisel. "It's mid-at-bat and it's not an egregious ball. That's something where, with any hitter, there are always emotions when you're in the heat of the moment. It's tough to regulate that, but those are the constant conversations that we're having with guys."

Some fans are only more emboldened now to argue for the adoption of "robo umps" on a full-time basis. However, the current system strikes a good balance.

Players have an avenue to remedy any missed calls. The ABS system provides a quick resolution. The two-challenge limit also brings strategy into play and ensures there aren't a disruptive number of stoppages.

The change is succeeding toward its overall aim.