The traditional practice of relaying pitch signs may soon be a relic of the past in Major League Baseball.
Beginning on Aug. 3, the Class-A California League will experiment with a new technology that allows catchers to electronically communicate signs to pitchers, rather than doing so manually with their fingers. ESPN first reported the news on Friday.
The device consists of a transmitter, which is worn by the catcher on a wristband, and a pair of receivers — one that goes inside the catcher’s helmet and another that fits in the sweatband of the pitcher’s hat. The transmitter contains nine buttons that signal the desired pitch type and location, and also has Spanish and English audio tracks along with an option for teams and players to pre-record their own audio.
MLB hopes that the new technology, developed by the company PitchCom, solves a pair of the sport’s predicaments. For one, it’s possible that relaying the signs electronically will help make the game move faster, helping in part solve the pace of play conundrum.
An electronic communication device could help reduce the amount of mound visits during games. Robert SaboAlso, according to PitchCom, hacking the system is virtually impossible, which would make the device a preventative measure against sign-stealing, which rocked the sport’s landscape last year after the Astros’ trash-can banging scheme was brought to light.
“We believe these systems have significant long-term potential and are eager to see how they perform in game conditions over an extended period,” the league’s memo to the eight Class-A California League teams read.
The PitchCom device adds to a laundry list of rule changes that MLB is currently experimenting with at the minor league level. Among them are an automated strike zone, a 15-second pitch clock and a ban on defensive shifts.
