MLB has taken a step towards the future with the addition of teams being able to use technology during games. Apple and MLB have struck a deal that involves placing iPad Pros in every team’s dugout during the season. The iPad Pro is the high end of the iPad line and they will be used by managers, coaches, and players to research and analyze data as well as have the opportunity to watch replays. Players will have access to their own data as well. The iPads also come fully stocked with a new app, called MLB Dugout, designed for analytics, video, and scouting. All iPads will have access to a private network infrastructure that was installed by MLB during the offseason.
Get The Latest MLB Tech News In Your Inbox!
Commissioner Robert Manfred is optimistic about the new deal with Apple. “Our collaboration with Apple on the use of iPad Pro in dugouts and bullpens is part of our ongoing effort to introduce extraordinary technology into our game,” Manfred said.
This is similar to the type of deal that the NFL and Microsoft have. Every team in the NFL uses Surface tablets to read analytics, video, and data during the game. Microsoft pays the NFL $80 million a year for the use of their product by coaches on the sidelines.
There was no word on the financial aspects of the deal between MLB and Apple.
The NFL has been using advanced technology for a couple of years now. Next Gen Stats are being used to view the game of football in a different scope than the regular stats suggest. NFL coaches have the opportunity to read and decipher each play to make split decisions while in the game and now MLB coaches will as well.
Baseball has always been labeled a more traditional sport than most others. During the reign of former commissioner Bud Selig, baseball was one of the sports that didn’t like change. There were not a lot of innovations to make the game greater and more technologically friendly. As one of America’s oldest spectator sports, there is an enjoyable aspect of finally seeing the game make progress towards the future.
Baseball does hold the top spot as the sport that is most deeply embedded with statistics. The current innovation only makes sense as teams are now able to hold every piece of information at their fingertips to quickly react to in-game decisions. The game will become more advanced with the addition of current generation technology and hopefully can continue by adding more innovations down the road.