Spring training is vital for players to refine their skills and perhaps have a little fun at each other’s expense.

Phillies shortstop Trea Turner decided to poke a bit of fun at his former teammate Max Scherzer during a recent game against the Toronto Blue Jays.

Turner cheekily challenged the first pitch of the game, which was called a strike, just to get under Scherzer’s skin. Though the call was upheld upon review, Turner’s sly grin hinted at his playful intention.

Scherzer had previously expressed skepticism about the automatic ball-strike system (ABS) after having several calls not go his way in a different game. He remarked, “We’re humans. Can we just be judged by humans?”

In response to whether Turner was joking with him during the game, Scherzer stated that there was no doubt about it, calling Turner one of his favorite teammates and assuring that they would both have a laugh about it later.

The two played together on the Washington Nationals from 2015 to 2021 before both were traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers. They even celebrated a World Series championship together in 2019. Their friendship and banter demonstrate an enduring bond formed over many years.

Currently, MLB is testing the ABS challenge system, which might soon be implemented in major games after being trialed in the spring of 2025.