After years of testing in the minor leagues and last year in spring training, MLB is finally going to have an automated strike zone (ABS) in the regular season. And while the ABS challenge system is pretty straightforward, there are some wrinkles to the rules.

But home plate umpire James Jean really didn't do any favors for Astros prospect Cavan Biggio on how he interpreted those rules on Sunday.

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During Houston's Grapefruit League matchup with the Cardinals, Biggio took an obvious ball low for what should have been a walk. It was so clear that he started the process of tossing the bat towards the dugout and making his way to first base. The problem: He didn't wait for Jean to make the call.

So, when Jean called Biggio out on strikes, that bat-toss motion negated Biggio's ability to challenge. Biggio tried to challenge by tapping his helmet, but Jean said it was too late.

Another wrinkle within the new Automated Ball-Strike Challenge System is that players must challenge before making any other movements

This would have been ball four to Cavan Biggio, but he flipped his bat before tapping his head pic.twitter.com/8qljYwEH90

— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) March 23, 2026

That ruling was awfully unfair to Biggio, though. The rules require the batter to immediately challenge after a call in order to prevent any communication from the dugout. But Biggio made that bat twirl motion before any call was made and immediately went to tap the helmet.

He probably should have been allowed to challenge there, but spring training is when players and umpires are both getting a feel for the new system.

It was a rough afternoon for Biggio as he was reassigned to minor-league camp after the 0-for-3 day.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: Astros prospect was denied an ABS challenge on the weirdest rule

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