Francona plans a hands-on approach, letting players learn from ABS mistakes before the 2026 season officially begins.
Spring training is officially underway in Goodyear, Arizona, and the Cincinnati Reds have plenty to sort out before Opening Day on March 26.
The biggest storyline heading into camp is not just the roster battles or the lineup questions.
It is the arrival of the Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) Challenge System, which Major League Baseball is rolling out league-wide for the first time in 2026.
And manager Terry Francona has a simple game plan for dealing with it: let the players learn by doing.
Francona Breaks Down His ABS Philosophy
In his most recent conversation with Cincinnati Enquirer reporter Pat Brennan, Francona explained how he plans to handle the new system during the Cactus League.
Last spring, he kept his veterans away from ABS entirely, seeing no reason to practice something that would not be used in the regular season.
This year, that changes.
"When the (spring training) games start, we'll allow the hitters to do it, and the catchers," Francona told Brennan. "If we see things that arise, we'll try to use it to our advantage, but I don't care if somebody messes up in spring."
He wants his players to get real reps, make mistakes, and learn from them before the games count.
Francona continued, saying the team will flag bad challenges without making a big deal out of them.
"We'll try to say, 'OK, this is not what we're shooting for,'" Francona said. "That's why in spring training, we'll let 'em because then we can say, 'that probably wasn't the ideal (challenge).'"
Pitchers will not be allowed to initiate challenges, keeping decisions in the hands of hitters and catchers.
Reds catchers have already been getting a head start, receiving real-time pitch location data during live batting practice at the Player Development Complex, which is equipped with Trackman technology.
What the ABS System Is and How It Works
The ABS Challenge System gives each team two challenges per game to dispute ball and strike calls.
Challenges are triggered by the batter, catcher, or pitcher tapping their head immediately after the call, with no help allowed from the dugout.
Successful challenges are retained, and teams receive a bonus challenge at the start of each extra inning if they have run out.
The overturn rate sits around 51 to 52 percent, and the system has added just under one minute per game on average.
The strategy element is what Francona is most focused on teaching.
A challenge burned early in a low-leverage situation could cost a team when it matters most.
We also detailed the biggest questions facing the Reds heading into 2026, and how they navigate new systems like this one is part of that conversation.
A Reds Team With Plenty Riding on 2026
The Reds opened Cactus League play Saturday and dropped the opener to the Cleveland Guardians 4-2.
Cincinnati finished 83-79 in 2025 and reached the National League Wild Card before getting swept by the eventual World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers.
This season, the Reds added power hitter Eugenio Suárez on a one-year, $15 million deal. Suárez hit 49 home runs last year and is expected to protect Elly De La Cruz in the lineup.
The rotation looks deep, led by Hunter Greene, Andrew Abbott, Nick Lodolo, and Brady Singer, while top prospect Sal Stewart gives the offense a potential difference-maker.
Fangraphs projects Cincinnati for around 79 wins, but there is reason to believe the Reds can outperform those numbers if the pitching holds and the lineup comes around.