01-05-2025
Umpire Nic Lentz had MLB fans in awe after he called a perfect game behind the plate in Royals-Rays
Umpire Nic Lentz had MLB fans in awe after he called a perfect game behind the plate in Royals-Rays
This past spring training, MLB experimented with any automated strike zone (ABS) challenge system for a majority of Cactus and Grapefruit League games. But even under that system, the challenges were limited. Teams were unlikely to get a perfectly called game.
On Wednesday, though, the Royals and Rays got to experience what it would be like to play under a full ABS system because umpire Nic Lentz was basically a robot for a night.
That's right — he called a perfect game.
For just the third time since Umpire Scorecards began tracking balls and strikes in 2015, there was a perfectly called game with Lentz accurately calling all 129 taken pitches. The other two perfect games were called by now-fired Pat Hoberg in the 2022 World Series and Mark Ripperger on April 10 (also a Royals game).
Just think: Every game could be like this if MLB went with a full ABS system.
Still, it was incredibly impressive, and MLB fans gave Lentz high praise for the legendary night behind the plate.
This was how Twitter/X reacted
Take a bow, Blue!
