Xander Bogaerts, the talented shortstop for the San Diego Padres, recently voiced his frustration regarding the current state of officiating in baseball, particularly the controversial strike zone. After being called out on strikes during a critical moment of the game against the Chicago Cubs, Bogaerts passionately addressed reporters about the strike call that he believed was incorrect. With the Padres trailing 3-1 in the ninth inning and the game hanging in the balance, the call on a 3-2 pitch that seemed to be below the strike zone drew his ire.
“What do you want me to do?” Bogaerts questioned when asked about the strike call, as reported by The San Diego Union-Tribune. “It’s a ball. Messed up the whole game, you know? I mean, can’t go back in time, and talking about it now won’t change anything. So it was bad, and thank God for automated ball-strike system (ABS) next year because this is terrible.” His comments highlight the significant impact that officiating can have on the outcome of a game, particularly in high-stakes situations.
After Bogaerts struck out, the Cubs' right-hander Brad Keller hit the following two batters, Ryan O’Hearn and Bryce Johnson. This sequence of events meant that the Padres could have had a bases-loaded, no-out situation with the game on the line, had home plate umpire D.J. Reyburn made the correct call or if Bogaerts had the option to challenge the strike. Instead, the Padres ended up with runners on first and second base with one out, ultimately leading to the Cubs’ Andrew Kittredge closing out the game and sending Chicago to the divisional round.
Looking ahead, Major League Baseball is taking steps to address issues like the one Bogaerts faced. Last month, the league's competition committee approved the introduction of the automated ball-strike system, commonly referred to as robot umpires, which is set to be implemented for the 2026 season. This innovative system will allow teams to have two challenges each game, and they will retain those challenges if they are successful. The challenges can only be initiated by a pitcher, catcher, or hitter by tapping their helmet or cap immediately after a pitch.
While the introduction of the ABS system may come too late for the Padres in the 2025 season, who fell short of a World Series berth in their fourth postseason appearance in the last six years, Bogaerts remains optimistic about the team's potential. “We had a lot of fun,” he reflected. “We competed with each other. We had guys that got injuries, a lot of guys stepped up. We traded for some really great people at the deadline. … It was fun until today.” This positive outlook amidst frustration exemplifies the competitive spirit of Bogaerts and the resilience of the Padres as they prepare for future challenges.
