Major League Baseball approved new technology that allows catchers to transmit signals to pitchers and other fielders for the 2022 season.
The rule, the league said, is designed to prevent opponent sign-stealing and increase pace of play. Catchers can choose to wear an electronic armband with buttons that transmit an audio signal to a speaker in the pitcher’s cap. Receivers can also be worn by three additional fielders for defensive positioning.
The optional wearable devices were approved by the MLB Players Association after experimental use in big league spring training this year. The Giants used the technology at times during spring training, with generally positive reviews from catchers and pitchers alike.
But many baseball purists probably aren’t ready to give PitchCom technology the thumbs up.
“I think that’s absolute BS, if you want to know the truth,” former Giants infielder Will Clark said on KNBR Wednesday. “I’m just going to lay it out there: there’s nothing wrong with the technology that we’ve used for 150 years, which is put your fingers down every now and then.”
Regardless of personal preference, there is one type of player who should, at least hypothetically, stand to gain from PitchCom: the young catcher. The Giants, if you’re just waking up from a five-month coma, have one of those in Joey Bart now that Buster Posey is retired.
“That was one of (Bart’s) main criticisms,” Giants broadcaster Mike Krukow said on KNBR Wednesday. “He couldn’t get the rhythm. Couldn’t get the finger down quick enough for a lot of guys. Early in his career, it was a big deal. Johnny Cueto had a hard time with it. Wandy (Peralta), Jarlin Garcia, they all had a hard time with it. So I think it really helps the young catcher. It’s going to help Joey Bart.”
Krukow, a former pitcher, also noted that if the electronic signals allow pitchers to work faster, that would be a plus. The Giants as an organization emphasize pushing the pace on the mound, and quicker signals could allow them to work even faster.
Bart used the device during San Francisco’s March 27 exhibition against the Angels. He caught offseason acquisition Alex Cobb, one of several veterans on the staff the rookie will work with this year. The technology could make it easier for him to get on the same page with them more frequently.
There are still kinks to be worked out. Bart told The San Francisco Chronicle that it might be better if the receivers were headphones instead of speakers so as to prevent loud audio spilling out in the air where it could be intercepted. He also said the transmission could be a bit quicker and the 12 buttons on his wrist were probably too many. Also, catchers need to remember to flip all their signals for left-handed batters.
But Bart still said “I think they’re on to something” with the technology. How often he and other batteries — both on the Giants and around the league — deploy PitchCom throughout the year is to be determined.
But if the Giants jump on to the bandwagon early, they could gain an advantage.