Vlad Jr. to Stay with the Jays Forever? Alex Verdugo to the Braves? Breaking Down the MLB Rumors

Plenty of men lie about their height – even Major League Baseball players. Usually, they get away with it, but it turns out MLB’s new Automated Ball-Strike System (ABS) was challenging more than just balls and strikes in spring training this year.

We saw it in action when Los Angeles Dodgers slugger Max Muncy lost a challenge in the team’s first spring game.

The system – which was in place for roughly 60% of Grapefruit League and Cactus League games this spring on a trial basis to determine its suitability for Major League usage – allows batters, pitchers and catchers to challenge an umpire’s call during a game.

Those challenges are reviewed against a more precisely measured strike zone – one that’s calculated based on the batter’s height.

The ABS strike zone is 17 inches wide. The top end of the zone is at 53.5% of the batter’s height, while the bottom is at 27% of the batter’s height. The depth of the zone is 8.5 inches from both the front and back of the plate.

All position players in spring training had to have their heights measured, per Anthony Castrovince of MLB.com – “first by a team of independent strength and conditioning personnel conducting manual measurements, then by representatives from Southwest Research Institute using biomechanical analysis to confirm the manual measurements and safeguard against potential manipulation.” Ok, then.

Recent MLB changes were absolutely brutal to ex-Dodgers infielder Gavin Lux

That brings us to former Dodgers infielder and newly-minted short king Gavin Lux.

The two-time World Series champion, who was traded to the Cincinnati Reds during the offseason, “lost” three inches off his height based on the new ABS measurements this spring.

Previously listed as 6-foot-2, Lux is now listed as 5-foot-11. Who did Lux bribe in LA during his annual physicals upon arriving to spring training?!

The Dodgers’ offseason signing of Hyeseong Kim squeezed Lux off of their roster, sending him to Cincinnati with a sizable chip on his shoulder.

(Ironically, Kim didn’t even make Los Angeles’ Opening Day roster.) Plus, the Dodgers got shorter, as Kim is listed at 5-foot-10.

Lux, last year’s starting second baseman for the Dodgers, figures to play primarily at third base and left field for the Reds this season.

He won’t let his new position – or his new height – interfere with his mission to prove that the Dodgers were wrong for letting him go.