The 2025 All-Star Game marked the first use of the ABS challenge system in the Midsummer Classic, following the same rules as spring training.
ATLANTA — Detroit Tigers left-hander Tarik Skubal, the starting pitcher for the American League, threw a third-pitch changeup on the bottom rail of the strike zone to Manny Machado with one out in the first inning of the 2025 MLB All-Star Game.
The reigning AL Cy Young winner set up the pitch with back-to-back fastballs on the top rail and located the changeup for what should've been a called-third strikeout — but home plate umpire Dan Iassogna surprised everyone.
"Ball down," Iassogna said.
"Oh," Skubal said. "What do you think?"
Catcher Cal Raleigh tapped the top of his helmet to challenge the pitch call, and Skubal immediately followed by tapping the top of his cap to reinforce the decision.
The 2025 All-Star Game on Tuesday, July 15, marked the first use of the ABS challenge system in the Midsummer Classic, following the same rules as spring training: Each team received two challenges — retained if successful — which could only be initiated by the pitcher, catcher or batter.
MLB has tested the system in the minor leagues since 2021.
Skubal, a member of the eight-player MLBPA executive subcommittee, believes the ABS challenge system will be implemented in MLB games in the 2026 season.
"Let's see, Cal," Skubal said. "How did you do?"
"I think it's a strike," Raleigh said.
Both players were right about the decision to challenge.
The call was overturned from a ball to a strike, resulting in a called-third strikeout for the second out in the first inning. The three pitches: 98.3 mph fastball (foul), 99 mph fastball (swinging strike), 89.5 mph changeup (called strike).
"You take them any way you can get them, boys," Skubal said, smiling and laughing.
Although Raleigh initiated the challenge, Skubal appeared ready to do it himself during the first inning Tuesday — despite saying Monday, July 14, that he didn't plan to use the ABS challenge system in the All-Star Game.
The competition changed his mind.
"Honestly, I wasn't even going to use them, but I felt like that was a strike," said Skubal, who gave up two runs on three hits in a row to open the first inning. "You want that in an 0-2 count, especially with the way the inning was going — the ball finding a lot of grass. I think it's coming. Whether players like it or not, it's going to come. I might as well get used to it."
National League manager Dave Roberts, who manages the Los Angeles Dodgers, flashed a smile from the dugout as the ABS challenge system overturned Iassogna's call. The entire challenge process takes less than 15 seconds.
It was the first challenge in All-Star Game history.
"I thought it was great," Roberts said. "The fans enjoy it. I thought the players had fun with it. And there's a strategy to it, if it does get to us during the season. But I like it. I think it's good for the game."
In the All-Star Game, the AL was success on all three of its challenges. The other two: Batter Jacob Wilson overturned a called strike to a ball on a pitch in the fifth inning, and catcher Alejandro Kirk turned a called ball into a strike on a pitch from left-handed reliever Aroldis Chapman in the ninth.
The NL had one unsuccessful challenge from batter Kyle Stowers in the eighth inning and one successful challenge from right-handed reliever Edwin Díaz in the ninth.
Not everyone is ready to embrace what's coming.
"I don't like taking the human element out of the game," said Machado, a 14-year MLB veteran. "I know it sucks they make a lot of mistakes, but it's human error. I think there are better options before we take that step. That's a drastic change, and it's a big one. I wouldn't like it, honestly. I'm old school, though."
Skubal feels the same way.
He prefers the game without the ABS challenge system.
"If the rule is coming, it doesn't matter what I feel like," said Skubal, in his sixth MLB season. "You have to make adjustments. It's the same thing with the pitch clock and not being able to shift anymore. It doesn't matter what players feel like. We don't have much say in our own game. Whatever they want, they push through, and this seems to be something that they want, so you might as well get used to it."
The ABS challenge system has been in use by MLB on a trial basis for the past five years — first tested in the the minor leagues in 2021, then implemented in Triple-A games in 2022 and now featured in spring training and the All-Star Game in 2025.
What's next?
"I'm assuming it's coming next year," Skubal said.
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'Speed dating' for $15,000
Both Skubal and Raleigh were mic'd up by the Fox broadcast throughout the 19-pitch first inning in the All-Star Game, allowing them to talk to play-by-play broadcaster Joe Davis and color commentator John Smoltz.
One problem: The pitch clock — 15 seconds without a runner and 18 seconds with a runner — didn't leave much time for in-depth conversation between the pitcher, catcher and broadcasters.
"The mic'd up thing, you gotta give me more than 15 seconds," Skubal said. "With the pitch clock, I understand why it's there, but if you want us to have a conversation, it's kind of hard to do it in 15 seconds. We're speed dating for every pitch, so it's hard to do that. But it's always a fun environment."
Skubal received $15,000 for being mic'd up during the 2025 All-Star Game, per the collective bargaining agreement between MLB and the MLBPA, which runs through Dec. 1, 2026. He also earned $10,000 for wearing a mic in the 2024 All-Star Game, though he couldn't hear anything from the broadcasters due to audio issues.
"It was more enjoyable this year," Skubal said, "because last year was just only static — I couldn't hear a thing with static. So this year was more enjoyable."
Contact Evan Petzold at [email protected] or follow him @EvanPetzold.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tiger Tarik Skubal uses ABS challenge system in All-Star Game
Category: Baseball
