Technology and Baseball

November 15th, 2023

Technology continues to get better and better. With that comes a new way of looking at things. This is why we have seen new statistics entering the game such as exit velocity, barrel percentage, OPS, ERA+. These statistical creations are the result of specific numbers that are proven to separate good players from great players. In order to obtain these numbers, we need certain technology to know exactly what we are looking for.

For pitching, it is no longer about using a radar gun and judging a guy’s general accuracy. Rapsodo is a high tech piece of equipment that uses flight monitors to measure a variety of different numbers. It can track the pitcher’s spin rate on the baseball, which determines the run and the bite that fastballs and offspeeds include. It also tracks velocity and break angles among many other statistics. For hitters, it can track their exit velocity, the angle of their bat, their swing path, and it can even show where the ball would go in real life.

Virtual reality is a relatively new element that can simulate a real game experience. Once the goggles go on, players enter a 3D world where they are able to face opponents. The point of VR in baseball is really to see pitches. It gives hitters an edge as they’re able to track the movement of pitches and get their timing aligned. I have tried this a few times, and the best way I can describe it is like entering a baseball video game. It’s a really cool experience.

Another technological advancement in the game (at least at higher levels) is ABS, which is an Automatic Ball-Strikes system that determines whether a pitch is a ball or strike. It is a new system that was tested out in Triple-A and it seemed to be extremely successful. There was still an umpire officiating the game, but players were able to challenge their calls. It’s extremely accurate and I personally believe it is only a matter of time before umpires go extinct due to this technology.