Tarik Skubal lost no time at all in capitalizing on the automated strike zone (ASZ) review process on the specified day.
The Detroit Tigers’ leading pitcher and American League participant successfully initiated a review, resulting in San Diego Padres prominent player Manny Machado being retired in the initial part of the All-Star Game at Truist Park. This marked the inaugural application of the ASZ review system in the Midsummer Classic.
The ASZ review system, which has undergone testing at the Triple-A level for a couple of seasons, was employed in approximately 60% of spring training games during the current season. According to information released by the league in March, slightly over half of the reviews resulted in overturned calls. Each review added an average of 13.8 seconds to the duration of a game, with about four reviews utilized per contest.
MLB’s competition committee is scheduled to convene later in the summer to deliberate whether the ASZ review system will be implemented in the majors on a permanent basis beginning with the next season.
While this possibility is still under consideration, the league decided to introduce the system for the first time during Tuesday’s All-Star Game. According to the system’s rules, a pitcher, catcher, or batter has the option to challenge an umpire’s judgment of a ball or strike immediately following the pitch in question. Each team received two challenges during the All-Star Game, and successful challenges are retained.
Once Skubal requested the review, the stadium’s video screen and the Fox broadcast displayed the Hawk-Eye perspective, which tracked the precise location of the preceding pitch. This demonstrated that the ball was indeed within the strike zone, leading to Machado receiving his third strike and providing the AL with its second out of the inning.
The review was implemented once more in the fifth inning. Athletics player Jacob Wilson requested a review while at the plate and successfully had a strike call reversed.
He ultimately grounded out on the subsequent pitch, rendering the review inconsequential.
A third review occurred in the eighth inning following Miami Marlins outfielder Kyle Stowers’ called strikeout, but it was unsuccessful by a narrow margin.
The fourth review of the evening originated from the pitching mound in the ninth inning, after the AL had rallied to even the score. This call was overturned, resulting in a third strike to conclude the inning as well.
A fifth review took place in the bottom of the inning, this time initiated by the catcher, successfully resulting in an early strike with Aroldis Chapman facing Brendan Donovan. In total, challengers were successful in 4 out of 5 review attempts during the All-Star Game.
The National League ultimately secured the victory in a swing-off, thanks to a sequence of three consecutive home runs from Philadelphia Phillies star Kyle Schwarber. This secured the NL’s second win in a span of three years.
