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Feb 22, 2026; Fort Myers, Florida, USA; Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora (13) looks on from the dugout during the third inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at JetBlue Park at Fenway South. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
Alex Cora isn't naming names, but he has a plan.
The Boston Red Sox, just like every other team in MLB, are adapting this season to the advent of the ABS challenge system that allows batters, catchers and pitchers to challenge ball and strike calls by the home plate umpire.
Teams already have data from their players who came up through the minor leagues the last few years with this system. And then they saw how things worked in Spring Training.
Now, the Red Sox are trying to attack the regular season with a plan.
Cora revealed many of his feelings when speaking with reporters on Thursday before Boston's Opening Day game.
“We have our system in place," Cora said. "We know when we’re going to try to challenge and in what situations. It’s not the most challenges; it’s when you’re going to challenge. So, we’ll see how it works. It will be interesting.”
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Cora then spoke about the youngsters who know it from the minor leagues.
“They’ve been able to use the system,” Cora said. “Some of them have been really good; others, have been really, really bad in challenging. We’ll see.”
Cora acknowledged the real key to the thing: leverage.
Just because it's early doesn't mean it isn't a big spot.
And an umpire may miss one call early and not miss another one the rest of the game. With two challenges, and them going away for a wrong use but being kept if correct, there'll be all sorts of strategy.
“It all depends, right,” Cora said. “In the first inning it can be a 3-and-1 count, two outs, and it’s a pitch that’s borderline. Those are runs, right? We’re trying to create runs here. The system is around that — creating runs. If we do it early, we’ll take a shot."
Every team will be trying to figure out how this works as the season goes on. For the Red Sox, it'll be a fascinating thing to keep track of as they get used to the new setup.
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