Rays get first taste of ABS system during live BP session

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. -- There has been a fair amount of helmet-tapping on the back fields of Charlotte Sports Park the past few days.

As those across MLB prepare for the introduction of the Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) Challenge System this season, the Rays have encouraged their hitters and catchers to freely challenge calls during their live batting practice sessions.

It’s not quite the real thing yet, of course. Coaches and staff call pitches during live BP, and a challenge prompts another coach or staff member to check the Trackman information for the correct call. But it’s a good opportunity for players to practice the process and get a sense of how it works.

“It's good to work on,” catcher Hunter Feduccia said. “It's also fun to see guys who haven't used it yet kind of get accustomed to that. … It’s good that we’re getting it going early.”

Feduccia has quite a bit of experience with the system, having used it in the Minors the past few years. Someone like starter Drew Rasmussen, on the other hand, has had limited exposure to it. Rasmussen tapped his cap during his two-inning live BP on Wednesday afternoon, although he said he doesn’t intend to challenge calls during the season.

“I mean, most of [the players who have used it] will tell you, 'Hey, it only takes a couple games, and after a couple games, you'll be used to it,’” Rasmussen said. “So I'm not overly concerned with that part of it.”

Rasmussen said there could be the occasional situation when a pitcher needs to challenge a call, like when his catcher is making a throw to second base. The catcher’s movement could block the home-plate umpire’s view of the strike zone, and the catcher might be more focused on the runner than the location of the pitch, leaving it to the pitcher to make sure they’re getting the right call.

“I do think there will be some times where pitchers have to have a good understanding of it,” Rasmussen said. “I think having an idea of what the strike zone is is important. But like I said, for the most part, I'm gonna let the man behind the plate do it. He's right there. He sees it. He's caught significantly more pitches than I've thrown. So it's just one of those things that I'll trust the guy who's right there by the plate more than I'll trust myself from 60 feet away.”

That sounded just fine to Feduccia.

“I've had some experience with it, and usually when pitchers start challenging pitches, they're usually wrong,” Feduccia said, smiling. “But also, it's hard to separate the need for wanting that strike badly and honestly knowing if it's a ball or strike. I think we're just gonna leave it up to the hitters and catchers.”

Some teams have already said they won’t let their pitchers challenge calls. The Rays haven’t drawn such a hard line yet, although manager Kevin Cash acknowledged the data that shows pitchers tend to be the least successful in their attempts to overturn a call.

“I think we'll continue to have conversations and see how it evolves over Spring Training,” Cash said.

Camp notes

• Fifteen pitchers faced hitters in live batting practice during Wednesday’s workout. A sizable crowd gathered on Field 4, where Rasmussen, Joe Boyle, Ian Seymour and non-roster lefty Cam Booser pitched to Yandy Díaz, Jake Fraley, Cedric Mullins, Gavin Lux, Justyn-Henry Malloy, Feduccia, Kenny Piper and Raynel Delgado.

“That whole field over there was encouraging. Four pitchers, no walks, a lot of contact, a lot of strikes, a lot of intent to get the ball in the zone,” Cash said. “I certainly think Ras is probably a good guy to start right there, because that's his whole mindset, and he's just going to live in the strike zone.

“He's got good enough stuff to do it, and hopefully that feeds off into Boyle's mentality, Ian Seymour's mentality, and then Cam Booser, who we're just kind of getting to know -- that's impressive stuff.”

• Rasmussen, Boyle and Seymour worked two “innings.” Rasmussen said he was pleased with how his session went, and Boyle showed off a new sweeper he’s adding this season.

• The pitchers simulated situations with a runner at first base, one of the ways that pitching coach Kyle Snyder is working this spring to emphasize the importance of holding runners.

• Versatile infielder/outfielder Richie Palacios has been taking ground balls at third base. Palacios has only played 10 innings at third in the Majors, but the Rays want him to get comfortable there in addition to his work at second base and in the outfield.