When MLB confirmed its vital plan to implement the Automated Ball-Strike Challenge System in 2026 fully, Carlos Rodón’s wife jumped in with some pointed commentary that had fans buzzing.
Ashley Rodón did not stop to show her feelings. Reacting to MLB’s official post related to the rule change, Ashley tweeted: “Accountability at an all time high 😂😂😂.” Minutes later, Ashley Rodón doubled down with a follow-up of “😈😂👏🏻”. Her sassy reactions perfectly captured the sentiment of fans and stars who have long questioned umpire consistency. It also added fuel to the interaction around MLB’s evolving relationship with technology.
The backdrop for Ashley’s review was a landmark declaration by the league itself. MLB took to X to post: “BREAKING: Major League Baseball will use the Automated Ball-Strike Challenge System (ABS) during the entire 2026 season. ABS CHALLENGE RULES:– Each team will get two challenges and can keep them if they’re successful– Challenges can only be initiated by a pitcher, catcher, or batter, and the request must come right after the pitch– To signal a challenge, the pitcher, catcher, or batter will tap his hat or helmet– No help from the dugout or other players on the field is allowed– In each extra inning, a team will be awarded a challenge if it has none remaining entering the inning.”
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The declaration followed seasons of testing in the minor leagues and in spring training. Rob Manfred noted that the decision came from the “strong preference from the players for the Challenge format over using the technology to call every pitch was a key factor.” In practice, it relies on cameras stationed around the ballpark and the T-Mobile 5G Network to capture pitch location. The result is quickly displayed on the scoreboard for all to see.
Still, fans had concerns: Would this slow down the game? As per league data, the ABS system was surprisingly effective in spring training. With an average of 4.1 challenges per game, each review took just 13.8 seconds. They also highlighted that limiting teams to two challenges per game helped to manage unnecessary delays while safeguarding fairness.
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Meanwhile, as Ashley Rodón’s reaction to MLB’s rule change stirred plenty of buzz online, Carlos Rodón himself is quietly making moves on the field that could shape the Yankees’ postseason run.
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Yankees strategically align Rodón for playoff push
Carlos Rodón has come out as one of New York’s most reliable arms, and the Yankees’ decision to kick-start his start speaks volumes about their playoff priorities.
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At 17-9 with a 3.04 ERA, the lefty has produced not just consistency but dominance, emphasized by his seven-inning, one-run gem against Baltimore. Aaron Boone applauds Rodón’s pitch mix, specifically a devastating changeup, noting how his capability to evolve has changed him into a true October weapon.
The move also has postseason implications.
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By starting Thursday instead of Friday, Carlos Rodón’s early appearance lines him up perfectly for a potential Game 2 start in the AL Wild Card series. Advanced metrics back up his ace status: Baseball Savant ranks him in the 97th percentile in Pitching Run Value and 88th in xERA, underlining just how tough he is to beat.
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For a Yankees team closing in on a playoff berth, aligning Rodón now could make the difference between an early exit and a deep October sprint.
As MLB glides into the Automated Ball-Strike era, Ashley Rodón’s cheeky posts captured the mix of skepticism and humor fans feel toward umpire accountability. Meanwhile, her husband is quietly preparing to be the Yankees’ difference-maker in October. With Rodón lined up as a postseason anchor, New York finds itself balancing history, technology, and star power, all converging at just the correct time.