Randy Arozarena had the worst ABS challenge game of the season

Seattle Mariners left fielder Randy Arozarena. James A. Pittman-Imagn Images

Mariners' Randy Arozarena had the worst ABS challenge game of the season

By Adam Gretz | Last updated Jul 3, 2026 11:21 PM ET

Seattle Mariners outfielder Randy Arozarena did not have a very productive first at-bat on Friday night against the Toronto Blue Jays.

Not only did he strike out against Blue Jays starter Dylan Cease, but he also used both Mariners ABS challenges during the at-bat, leaving the Mariners with zero challenges for the remainder of the game.

He was the second batter of the game, and there was nobody on base.

It might have been the worst ABS challenge game by any player this season.

Mariners outfielder Randy Arozarena had a terrible ABS challenge night

Arozarena's first challenge came on a 0-1 pitch that he thought was a little too far inside.

It was not.

Upon the ABS review, half of the baseball caught the inside corner. It was close, but not that close.

But just a few pitches later, Arozarena was called out on a third strike that he again felt was a little too far inside.

This one was even further over the plate.

Randy Arozarena just used all of the Mariners challenges...

2 batters into the game. pic.twitter.com/C1a2gsROCK
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) July 4, 2026

With that, both Mariners' challenges were gone just two batters into the game, with both of them being used by the same batter.

On one hand, you never know when an at-bat can lead to a big inning, and the difference between an 0-2 count and a 1-1 count can be significant when it comes to pitch selection. It is also understandable that an out is a big pitch, and if a hitter thinks the call is wrong, they want to try and keep their at-bat going.

But there also has to be some strategic work at play here, as well as an awareness of the situation with nobody on base in the bottom of the first inning in a scoreless game.

Using one of those challenges is acceptable. Even defensible. Using both of them in that at-bat? That is just brutal.

Teams get two ABS challenges per game for balls and strikes, and maintain them each time they win one. When they lose a challenge, it is gone. When they lose two, they have no more for the remainder of the opening nine innings. You do not usually see them get used in the same at-bat by the same player.

Adam Gretz

Adam Gretz is a freelance writer based in Pittsburgh. He covers the NHL, NFL, MLB and NBA. Baseball is his favorite sport -- he is nearly halfway through his goal of seeing a game in every MLB ballpark. Catch him on X @AGretz

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