Matt Olson's viral moment could be an early look at Braves' newest weapon

The long-awaited ABS challenge system has officially arrived in Major League Baseball, and big league hitters are already demonstrating their advanced command of the strike zone. The Atlanta Braves’ everyday lineup includes several hitters well positioned to capitalize on MLB’s latest rule change, and that was on full display on Wednesday against Pittsburgh.

The Braves faced perhaps the most electric pitcher in the game — reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes — on Wednesday at CoolToday Park, but that didn’t stop them from showcasing their proficiency with the new ABS challenge system. In fact, one of their successful challenges went viral due to the razor-thin margin of the overturned call.

Braves' excellent showing with ABS against Paul Skenes could foreshadow their newest useful skill in 2026

The ABS challenge system was introduced to baseball for several reasons, but one of the most significant was on display during Wednesday’s Braves–Pirates matchup. For years, established star pitchers have appeared to receive the benefit of a few extra inches off the plate when consistently hitting their spots. Braves fans from the 1990s know this well, as Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine routinely benefited from a slightly expanded strike zone.

In a world without ABS, Skenes might have cruised through his first spring outing with far less resistance. Instead, the Atlanta Braves disrupted his rhythm by successfully challenging four ball-strike calls. Olson’s appeal quickly went viral after the initial strike ruling was overturned, with ABS replay showing the pitch missed the plate by less than one-tenth of an inch.

Olson said after the game that once the regular season begins, a pitch that close likely won’t warrant a challenge, but he wanted to get an early feel for the ABS system. His 12.6% walk rate in 2025 underscores his advanced strike-zone awareness. In fact, Olson, Ronald Acuña Jr., Mike Yastrzemski, and Jurickson Profar each ranked in the 89th percentile or higher in walk rate in 2025, highlighting the lineup’s collective plate discipline.

If early returns are any indication, the ABS challenge system could serve as a meaningful advantage for a disciplined lineup like the Atlanta Braves. With hitters such as Olson and Ronald Acuña Jr. already demonstrating elite command of the strike zone, the ability to correct even the slimmest missed calls only sharpens their edge. Over the course of a long season, that combination of patience, power, and precision could turn razor-thin margins into a tangible competitive advantage.