PHOENIX — Flashing bleached hair under his cap as he settles in with his new team, Dodgers closer Edwin Díaz threw his first pitch of a live bating practice session on Thursday at Camelback Ranch to Freddie Freeman. It’s called a strike. As Díaz got set for his next pitch, Freeman tapped on his helmet in a playful attempt to challenge the call.
In response, Díaz immediately tapped his cap twice.
Though it was not a live-game situation, these are gestures that will become the norm in major league baseball starting this weekend thanks to the Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) Challenge System.