Reds notebook: ABS strategy is taking shape
GOODYEAR, Ariz. — Every year, during the final few days of spring training, Terry Francona meets with the hitters one morning and the pitchers another morning. They go through a lot of what Francona calls “housekeeping.”
For example, with the hitters, they refresh the team’s approach on first pitch swinging, when to swing in 3-0 counts and when to run on the bases. “Things we try to live by,” Francona said.
This year, the meetings with the pitchers and the hitters will include a new topic.
When to challenge balls and strikes using the new ABS system and when not to.
“We’ve seen it can alter a game,” Francona said. “We need to remember that.”
It was recently brought up to Francona that the Brewers were experimenting with a system, one that ended up being rejected by MLB, that had a coach flash a green card before the pitch to signal to batters that they were allowed to challenge an upcoming pitch. MLB didn’t approve because players aren’t supposed to receive assistance from the bench. Francona said that the Reds wouldn’t be using a system along the lines of what the Brewers were trying out.
Over the course of the spring training schedule, the Reds have used a regular season-like approach. Entering Sunday, their batters have won the fifth-most number of challenges in MLB (they rank sixth in success rate) and their catchers have won the third-fewest number of challenges — but the catchers also rank fifth in success rate.
The Reds’ strategy is taking shape.
“We want to stay away from emotional challenges,” hitting coach Chris Valaika said. “Staying away from some two-strike stuff. If everyone in the ballpark knows it’s a ball, go ahead. But you want to stay away from those things. Three ball counts, things where there’s a result tied to it, we’ll try to be more proactive and challenge. Especially 3-0 counts when the zones tend to be the biggest.”
Valaika said that you need to remember that there’s still a human being behind the plate, and that there will always be borderline pitches.
You shouldn’t challenge every borderline pitch. The situation will impact how much of a green light hitters have to challenge.
“We’re trying to stay away from first or second inning, 2-0 (count), nobody on,” Francona said.
Francona has also spoken about the importance of saving a challenge for late in the game and ensuring that you don’t run out of challenges too soon.
That would be like a football team being out of timeouts in the final two minutes. You should save one for when it can make the biggest impact.
One more note: There may be a slight difference in the ABS system in each ballpark based on the slope of the mound. Every series, the Reds will have to get a feel for how the ABS zone looks in that given environment.
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With one week left in camp, an update on some roster battles.
-Chase Burns, Rhett Lowder and Brandon Williamson are competing for the final two spots in the rotation.
-One bench spot for JJ Bleday, Nathaniel Lowe, Rece Hinds and Blake Dunn
How much is this 26th guy going to play with a starting lineup that’s pretty deep, a core that’s pretty set and nice depth on the roster already with Will Benson and Dane Myers?
Bleday has looked the best out of this group this spring. Does he need to keep getting consistent at-bats as a young player with upside? Has Bleday done enough to take some big league starts and at-bats away from some others on the team now and then — you could make that case.
You know what you’re going to get from Lowe, a power threat vs. RHP. It’s worth noting that the Reds have a ton of first base depth with Sal Stewart, Spencer Steer and Eugenio Suarez. Among hitters competing to make the roster, Lowe has the longest track record and had the best 2025 season. He’s also just 30 years old.
40-man math is also something to consider. There will be one open spot when they move Hunter Greene to the 60-day IL. Do you use that spot on Lowe, a non-roster reliever or save it for when a different need arises?
Factor in how well Hinds and Dunn have played in camp as well as during the second half of the 2025 Triple-A season, and it’s a tough call here.
-Three bullpen spots for Connor Phillips (who has the highest upside and entered camp with a leg up in this roster battle), Sam Moll (lefty, out of minor league options), Zach Maxwell (pitching well of late), Kyle Nicolas (recently joined team via trade, hasn’t pitched much for Team Italy in the WBC, which isn’t ideal for the Reds), Hagen Danner (not on the 40-man roster), Anthony Misiewicz (lefty, not on the 40-man roster) and Luis Mey.
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The Reds reassigned Tejay Antone to minor league camp.
Francona said, “It was so intriguing watching him pitch. I don’t think it’s unfair for us to want him to go to Triple-A and get into the groove of a grind and how you bounce back. I think he understood that. There’s always going to be some disappointment. I tried to remind him with everything you’ve been through, enjoy competing and pitching. He has done a terrific job. I think his better days are ahead of him.”