MLB Weekly Digest: Spring Training Opens with a High-Tech Twist

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The crack of the bat has returned to Arizona and Florida as MLB Spring Training 2026 officially got underway this past week. While the early Grapefruit and Cactus League games are usually about shaking off the rust, this week provided several major storylines—from “flamethrowing” debuts to the official arrival of the “robot umpires” in the big leagues.

The ABS Challenge System Debuts

The biggest news of the week wasn’t a trade or a home run, but a new rule change. The Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) Challenge System is now officially in effect for all MLB stadiums in 2026.

How it Works: Home plate umpires still call the game, but pitchers, catchers, and batters now have two challenges per game. If they disagree with a call, they simply tap their helmet to trigger a 15-second Hawk-Eye review shown on the scoreboard.
Early Adopters: Yankees superstar Aaron Judge—who famously struggles with low strike calls due to his 6-foot-7 frame—has already made use of the system in early workouts.
Strategy: Teams are already debating whether only catchers should be allowed to signal for a challenge to keep the game’s rhythm.

New Faces in New Places

The “Hot Stove” finally cooled down as stars suited up in their new colors for the first time:

That’s 2 homers in 2 #SpringTraining games for Pete Alonso 😤 https://t.co/14WYPje5sD

— MLB (@MLB) February 22, 2026

The Orioles’ New Ace: Pete Alonso made his highly anticipated debut for Baltimore after signing a massive five-year, $155 million deal this offseason.
Yankees’ Youth Movement: All eyes were on 6-foot-7 right-hander Carlos Lagrange, who stole the headlines by hitting 102.6 mph in a live BP session against Aaron Judge.
Blue Jays’ Japanese Star: Kazuma Okamoto made his debut at third base for Toronto, a move the front office hopes will solidify their infield for years to come.

The Injury Bug Bites Early

Spring is, unfortunately, also the season of the 60-day Injured List. Several contenders were hit with tough news this week:

San Diego Padres: Reliever Yuki Matsui suffered a left adductor strain, putting his availability for the upcoming World Baseball Classic in serious doubt.
Toronto Blue Jays: Bowden Francis has been ruled out for the entire 2026 season following right elbow surgery.
Dodgers: Veteran Kiké Hernández was placed on the 60-day IL as he continues to recover from left elbow surgery.

Notable Transactions (Feb 16–22)

Player	Team	Transaction Type
Marcell Ozuna	Pirates	Signed 1-year free agent deal
Zac Gallen	D-backs	Re-signed on a 1-year “prove-it” deal
Griffin Canning	Padres	Signed 1-year deal
Walker Buehler	Padres	Signed a Minor League “recovery” contract
Shelby Miller	Cubs	Signed 2-year deal (Tommy John recovery)

What’s Next: The World Baseball Classic (WBC)

Expect rosters to thin out over the next 10 days as stars depart Spring Training to join their national teams. The 2026 World Baseball Classic is set to begin in early March, with Team USA looking to defend their soil against a loaded Japanese squad featuring Munetaka Murakami (now with the White Sox).

The 2026 #WorldBaseballClassic U.S. broadcast schedule is here ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/lZwNi9t9bM

— World Baseball Classic (@WBCBaseball) February 12, 2026