A Hall of Famer's Take on Baseball's Tech Evolution
John Smoltz, a 213‑155 pitcher with 154 saves and a Hall of Fame inductee, is currently teeing off at the American Century Championship, a charity event that will be televised on NBC and streamed via Peacock.
The former Atlanta Braves star has thrown his weight behind the Automated Ball‑Strike (ABS) challenge system that Major League Baseball has been testing in the Arizona Fall League and at spring‑training sites.
Smoltz argues that the current challenge model, which lets managers contest umpire calls on pitches, has already produced measurable shifts: swing rates are down and walk rates are up, a trend he links to pitchers having to fine‑tune their command in a world where they can no longer rely on the umpire’s eye.
Why a Full‑Time System Could Backfire
While the challenge system offers a measure of fairness, Smoltz warns that making it permanent would likely exacerbate the very problems it seeks to solve. He points out that the increased walk rates stem from pitchers pressing too hard to avoid controversial calls, which in turn disrupts the rhythm of the game.
In his view, the technology works best when used sparingly, preserving the human element of umpiring while still correcting clear errors. A full‑time implementation, he suggests, could strip away the strategic nuance that has defined baseball for decades.
The Hall of Famer also reflected on his own career, noting that 21 seasons in the big leagues gave him a deep appreciation for the balance between tradition and innovation. He remains a vocal advocate for preserving the sport’s subtle intricacies.
Beyond the mound, Smoltz is competing alongside other sports legends in the American Century Championship, where his participation underscores the crossover appeal of baseball icons in charity golf competition.
The event’s broadcast partnership with NBC and Peacock will bring the tournament to a wide audience, further cementing Smoltz’s presence in the public eye as both a baseball ambassador and a competitive golfer.