<\/p>\n
Major League Baseball introduced the Automatic Ball-Strike (ABS) Challenge System<\/a> this season as its latest in-game innovation.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n And it\u2019s been met with satisfactory approval.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Kansas City Royals have certainly utilized ABS to their advantage. It seems like Royals catchers Salvador Perez, Carter Jensen and Elias Diaz find themselves on the right side of challenges fairly often.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The trio entered Sunday\u2019s game with a 37-24 record in ABS challenges. Collectively, they have successfully challenged six strikes and overturned four balls.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Perez is leading the way by operating at a 78% clip. On Sunday, he showcased his proficiency by successfully overturning a ball just off the plate.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n It happened in the third inning. Perez tapped his catcher\u2019s helmet and signaled for an ABS challenge.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Within seconds, Perez was proven correct in his judgment. He astutely noted that the incoming pitch was a strike \u2014 much to the appreciation of Royals starter Stephen Kolek.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cKolek was saying, \u2018No (it\u2019s a) ball,\u2019\u201d Perez said, before adding with a chuckle: \u201cPitchers should not be challenging because I know where the ball is going.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Perez said it jokingly, but Kolek agreed.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI kind of had the notion that I thought it was maybe like a half-inch off the plate,\u201d Kolek said. \u201cAnd he was like, \u2018Oh, why didn\u2019t you tell me?\u2019 And sure enough, he was right. I\u2019m like, \u2018That\u2019s why you got the reins on that for sure. So, I\u2019m going to keep trusting you.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n That trust helped Kolek pitch 6 1\/3 scoreless innings against the Cardinals. He earned his second victory surrendering just four hits and registering three strikeouts.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Perez, meanwhile, also did well at the plate on Sunday. He finished 2-for-2 with a home run and a sacrifice fly as the Royals snapped a six-game losing streak<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYeah, he\u2019s got this thing down,\u201d Royals manager Matt Quatraro said of Perez\u2019s ABS challenge mastery. \u201cI don\u2019t know what his success rate is, but he has been really good.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n