The Dodgers Farm System

It seems to me that it will be a lot easier to clear waivers when teams have to be down to 26 than for 40 which might be the plan for Ben or since Rushing has options they could always send him down if they feel he needs more consistent AB’s. Not a fan of the challenge system. Either call every pitch that way or none. Two challenges for a CB Buckner game? They won’t get out of the first inning.

Under the rules for the Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) Challenge System debuting in 2026, teams are managed as follows in extra innings: Unused Challenges: Any team with challenges remaining at the start of the 10th inning simply carries them forward; they do not receive an additional challenge for that specific inning. Replenishing Challenges: If a team enters the 10th inning (or any subsequent extra inning) with zero challenges remaining, they are awarded one new challenge for that inning. Subsequent Innings: This replenishment rule continues for every subsequent extra inning; if a team exhausts its challenge in the 10th, they receive another at the start of the 11th, and so on.

Why 3D was rejected Although the official MLB rulebook defines the strike zone as the 3D space directly above home plate, the initial 3D ABS trials were abandoned for several reasons: “Aesthetic” Accuracy: 3D zones often called strikes on breaking balls that “nicked” only the back corner of the plate after clearly appearing outside to the batter and fans. Consistency: The 2D midpoint zone ensures that the call matches what is seen on broadcast “K-Zone” graphics, which are 2D representations. Fairness for Pitchers: A 3D zone could inadvertently reward “wild” breaking pitches that technically touch a rear edge but are not competitive strikes in a traditional sense.

So my recollection of a 2-D zone is correct. Then what is the tick rule you reference? I appreciate your information/clarifications.

Haha!

The “tick rule” in MLB’s Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) System refers to the requirement for a pitch to touch any part of the strike zone to be ruled a strike. This rule specifically applies when the system evaluates a pitch using its 2D strike zone configuration. 2D Evaluation Point: Unlike the traditional 3D “cube” above home plate, the ABS system measures the pitch at a single two-dimensional plane located at the midpoint of home plate (8.5 inches from both the front and back edges). Strike Requirement: If any part of the ball—even just a “tick” or a sliver—touches any part of the designated rectangular zone at that midpoint, it is recorded as a strike. Zone Dimensions: The 2D zone is 17 inches wide with a height based on the individual batter: the top is set at 53.5% of the player’s height, and the bottom is at 27%. Aesthetic Adjustment: The move to a 2D midpoint zone was partly intended to make automated calls look more “natural” to viewers, as full 3D tracking often called strikes on extreme breaking balls that “clipped” the very front or back of the plate but never looked like strikes to the human eye.

From MLNTR: The Dodgers announced their minor league coaching staffs on Thursday, with two recently-retired MLB players joining the ranks. David Dahl is joining the Triple-A Oklahoma City staff as an outfield coach and assistant hitting coach, while Michael Hermosillo will be an outfield and baserunning coach for the high-A ball Great Lakes Loons. In Hermosillo’s case, the news seems to act as a retirement announcement for the former outfielder, who just turned 31 last month. Hermosillo hasn’t played anywhere since suiting up in the Mexican Winter League during the 2023-24 offseason, and his last taste of affiliated ball came in the form of 66 games with the Yankees’ Triple-A affiliate in 2023. A 28th-round pick for the Angels in the 2013 draft, Hermosillo spent his first three (2018-20) big league seasons in a Halos uniform. The Angels outrighted Hermosillo following the 2020 campaign, and after signing with the Cubs, Hermosillo made 47 appearances for Chicago over the next two seasons. All in all, Hermosillo hit .167/.268/.283 over 229 Major League plate appearances. While not considered a top prospect during his time in the minors, Hermosillo got himself onto the radar with some strong numbers on the farm, including a .262/.355/.492 slash line, 56 home runs, and 42 steals (in 59 tries) over 1194 PA at the Triple-A level. Between his speed and all-fields ability in the outfield, Hermosillo seems well-suited to impart his wisdom with the next generation of Dodgers prospects. We at MLB Trade Rumors congratulate Hermosillo on his career achievements, and we wish him in the best in his coaching endeavors. Dahl announced his retirement in December, officially closing the door on a career that included seven MLB seasons and an All-Star nod in 2019 during his time with the Rockies. This coaching gig is Dahl’s second stint in the Dodgers organization, as he signed a minor league deal with the team in June 2023 that didn’t result in any big league playing time, but Dahl did play in 54 games with Oklahoma City.