Major League Baseball announced this week that it will no longer allow teams to use iPads in the dugout for real‑time AI assistance, effectively shutting down the custom tabs that had been providing strategic recommendations on substitutions, pitch calling and other in‑game decisions.
The crackdown follows revelations that the New York Mets had been employing an artificial‑intelligence program to influence pitch selection and other tactical choices, a practice that came to light after a review by the league’s competition committee.
Mixed Reactions from the Bench
New York Yankees captain Aaron Judge admitted he was surprised to learn that clubs were already leveraging such technology, while former reliever Adam Ottavino, who once played for the Mets, noted that the program was “expensive” and that teams had been eager to showcase its capabilities.
Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider described the development as “weird,” emphasizing how quickly decision‑making can be altered when data streams feed directly into a manager’s hand.
Arizona Diamondbacks skipper Torey Lovullo acknowledged that AI is “entering the arena of baseball,” but said the league’s move reflects a broader need to preserve the human element of the game.
The restriction, which took effect on Wednesday night, gives teams a short window to adjust their technology stacks. MLB’s pilot program that began late in the 2015 season had already limited iPad use, and the 2020 season saw video replay eliminated after the Houston Astros’ sign‑stealing scandal.
A league spokesperson confirmed that the competition committee found clubs had been compliant with existing regulations, but the unauthorized AI tabs prompted the new ban.
While some managers remain skeptical about the fairness of AI‑aided strategies, others see the technology as an inevitable evolution of the sport.