Just days into the 2026 season, MLB’s new ABS challenge system has already been part of some huge moments. Late in Sunday’s 8-6 win over the Twins, the Orioles took advantage in one of the highest-leverage tests of the system so far.
The O’s overturned not one but TWO pitches with the tying run at the plate in the top of the ninth inning, flipping a walk into a huge strikeout for the second out of the frame and holding on to win.
First, Baltimore closer Ryan Helsley’s 3-0 pitch to Josh Bell was ruled a ball, but catcher Adley Rutschman successfully challenged the call. After Bell fouled off the 3-1 pitch, Helsley’s 3-2 pitch -- a slider on the outside corner -- was also called a ball. As Bell began jogging down to first base, Helsley tapped his hat to challenge the call. The result? Strike three, just 0.3 inches inside the edge of the zone.
“I think our guys used the challenges really well today, even Helsley, which was a weird one," Baltimore manager Craig Albernaz said. "It looks like Helsley didn’t know a ball was called until after.”
Twins manager Derek Shelton appeared to take issue with the delay before the Orioles challenged the 3-2 pitch, leading to an argument with the umpiring crew. Shelton, who quipped Sunday morning that at least he wasn’t the first manager ejected in 2026, turned out to be the second when he was tossed by home-plate umpire Chris Segal.
"I didn’t think Helsley tapped his cap quick enough," Shelton said. "Maybe he did, maybe he didn’t, but I didn’t feel he did. I feel like it’s gotta be something within the three seconds, and I didn’t think it was there. But the umpiring crew thought it was."
"I mean, I understood where he was coming from because I had felt like the umpire didn't see me right away, and so I was kind of confused," Helsley said. "And then, I think I did it again. But [second-base umpire] Laz [Diaz] behind me kind of took up for me and was like, 'He did it right away,' which, I know we're probably going to go through some growing pains with this because it's so new, and I think we saw that today.
"I can respect Shelton for trying to not get him to do it there, because it did seem like it was a little long in that moment."
The Orioles' two challenges during Bell’s at-bat were the club's third and fourth of the game, all successful. The Twins lost their ability to challenge in the seventh inning when Matt Wallner unsuccessfully challenged a strike call for the club’s second unsuccessful challenge of the day.
After Bell was ruled out on the close 3-2 offering for the second out of the ninth, Victor Caratini reached on an error to put the tying run on base, but Helsley got James Outman to fly out to left field to end the ballgame. Had Bell indeed walked, as it originally seemed he would, Sunday’s game might have had a much different outcome.
For his part, Bell appeared content to leave decisions where they fell and move on.
"I thought he made good pitches," he said of Helsley. "I've got to tip my cap."