High N Tight Newsletter

Your Weekly Rundown

Welcome to High N Tight! 

We’re covering everything baseball—from the latest headlines to Little League, offering coaching tips, gear recommendations, and our inspiring story of the week.

Grab your glove and let's dive in!

Top Story of the Week: Robots in Baseball? 🤖

Are umpires about to lose control of balls and strikes to robots?

MLB is set to experiment with an Automated Ball-Strike System (ABS) during Spring Training.

Under the plan, teams will have a limited number of challenges on ball and strike calls—and who decides who's right?

Drum roll... Artificial intelligence!

To be clear: there won’t be actual robots like you see in the movies.

No mechanical arms or androids behind the home plate.

Instead, ABS relies on a network of high-speed cameras and radar sensors to track the ball’s trajectory in real-time.

Using computer vision and machine learning algorithms, the system compares the pitch’s path to a digitally defined strike zone and instantly determines whether it’s a ball or a strike.

Got all that?

Just picture the drama: a pitch called a ball on Shohei Ohtani gets challenged by none other than Gerrit Cole.

The tension builds as the AI-powered ABS system steps in—only to rule it a strike, sending the superstar slugger back to the dugout in disbelief.

For now, ABS is only being tested in Spring Training, but we all know where this is headed.

By 2026, MLB is expected to fully implement ABS.

Like many of the league’s changes over the years, this one is bound to spark heated debate.

Could a World Series one day be decided by ABS? Imagine that!

Genius move or a fastball down the middle of chaos?

What’s your take? I’ll give you my two cents down below.

When the Dodgers’ Ball Girl Became an MVP: The Viral Tackle Heard 'Round the Diamond

Nearly four years ago at Dodger Stadium, an unforgettable moment occurred—but not from a dramatic home run or a no-hitter.

It came from a defensive play that’s rarely seen, and it wasn’t even made by a player. Enter Marissa Rohan, the Dodgers' ball girl down the right-field line.

It all started when a fan jumped the fence and sprinted onto the field. Dodgers security scrambled, but the fan was too fast and was heading straight for the right-field line.

That’s when Rohan, with perfect timing, shifted into position and delivered a textbook tackle, sending the fan tumbling over the wall where he was finally taken down by security.

The crowd erupted. Social media exploded. Rohan was dubbed the "MVP of the Night."

Later, Rohan said she didn’t have time to think.

She just reacted—an instinctive response honed by her sharp situational awareness, much like the qualities baseball players rely on every day.

For fans, it was a reminder that heroes can emerge from anywhere on the field.

In baseball, success is built on preparation, alertness, and seizing the moment.

Marissa Rohan showed us that this applies to anyone on the field, whether you’re a player or a ball girl with a quick mind and a willingness to step up when the game is on the line.

Indeed The Heart of The Game.

Have a nominee for The Heart of the Game? Let us know

My 2 Cents: MLB Gives ABS A Tryout

I’m heading to Spring Training next week, and I couldn’t be more excited!

There’s truly nothing like it—the best time of the year.

But this year, I’m especially interested in seeing how the ABS (Automatic Ball-Strike) system works.

It’s long overdue.

Let’s face it: we live in a world where technology and AI make our lives easier.

So why not bring that same innovation to improve baseball?

If ABS can help make ball-and-strike calls more accurate, I’m all for it!

Sure, umpires are human, and we all know they’ll miss a call every now and then.

But in recent years, the ball-and-strike calls have been getting worse.

When I’m watching a game and clearly see a pitch is a strike, but it’s called a ball, it’s frustrating.

If replay shows it was a strike, why not use that technology to get the call right in real time.

Over the years, replay reviews have done wonders in overturning bad calls.

It’s proven to be a great addition to the game, and I believe ABS will be just as beneficial.

Now, I don’t want to see endless challenges slowing down the game.

But in those critical moments when every fan watching at home knows it’s a strike, why not let ABS ensure the right call is made?

It’s been tested in the minors for years, and it’s worked out well.

Sure, there will be tweaks before ABS is fully implemented in 2026, but I’m all for pushing the game forward.

And don’t worry, the human umpires we love to boo aren’t going anywhere—they’ll still play a key role in the game.

But as a fan who’s watched baseball for over 50 years, I say it’s time we get the ball-and-strike calls right!

Is ABS A Good Thing For MLB Let us know!

The Quote of the Week 😲

"I think I was the best baseball player I ever saw." – Willie Mays

Send us your wildest baseball quotes? Quote of the week

How’d We Do? (Poll 📊)

What did you think of this week’s newsletter?

⚾ Loved it! More, please!
⚾ Solid, but could use tweaks.
⚾ Not my style.

Click here to vote! Your feedback helps us keep this newsletter a home run.

Final Thoughts

Whether you're coaching the next Little League star, playing catch in the yard, or soaking in every inning of the big games, we’re here to fuel your love for baseball.

Got a topic, tip, or story idea? Hit reply—I’d love to hear from you.

Until next week,
Team High 'N Tight

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