The Major League Baseball (MLB) is set to regulate the use of technology and data across all minor-league parks beginning in the 2024 season. This decision aims to create a more equitable environment in the minor leagues, where wealthier organizations have previously leveraged significant financial resources to gain a competitive edge. Teams that invested in advanced tools, such as high-speed cameras and motion capture technology, have widened the information gap compared to their less affluent counterparts.
According to sources familiar with the situation, the league intends to approve specific in-game technology and data vendors. This change, confirmed by an MLB spokesperson, is designed to ensure that all 30 Clubs operate with the same information when making baseball operations decisions. “Each Club can use the information however they see fit, but it is important that we provide a level playing field on access to information,” the spokesperson stated.
The regulation aims to curb what has been described as an unchecked arms race in the minor leagues. Teams that have heavily invested in proprietary technologies may find themselves adjusting to new standards, potentially leading to the removal of non-approved systems from their ballparks. Critics of the policy argue that it stifles innovation and may render previous investments obsolete, creating a chilling effect on spending in front offices.
A research and development executive expressed concerns, stating, “That’s definitely a concern. And there has been a vocal subset of owners that have wanted to limit front office spending for a while.” Discussions regarding the new policy began during the General Manager (GM) meetings in November, and by the time of the Winter Meetings, the topic was widely circulated among executives focused on data and technology.
The objective of this regulation is straightforward: standardize access to data and technology across the minor leagues, similar to the existing framework in the major leagues. Currently, disparities exist, with some teams investing in comprehensive solutions like Hawk-Eye tracking data at their minor-league venues, while others have not made such investments.
MLB’s approach may involve centralizing installations, with the league covering costs for necessary technology upgrades. The spokesperson noted, “The effect will be different by ballpark, as some facilities will see additional tech installations while others will be unchanged or reduced.”
Previously, affluent teams could negotiate with various technology providers and invest in tools that they believed would enhance their performance, accumulating vast amounts of data even if they were unsure how to utilize it effectively later on. The new regulations will limit this flexibility, prompting some vendors to voice their discontent, acknowledging the potential loss of innovative opportunities.
One high-level research and development analyst remarked, “We won’t know what sort of innovation we’ll miss because of this. But we’ll probably miss out on something.” Concerns extend beyond the loss of innovation; the quality of data in the minor leagues could also be impacted.
For instance, some teams favor Kinetrax, a marker-less motion capture company that provides valuable biomechanical data, over Hawk-Eye. Although both companies are now under the same parent company, Sony, the high cost of upgrading every minor-league park to include Kinetrax technology may deter MLB from adopting it widely.
Another technology in question is Edgertronic, which provides high-frame-rate cameras to better analyze in-game movements. Additionally, Catapult, a wearable technology that tracks player movement and fatigue, is utilized in minor-league games but may face uncertainty under the new regulations.
As discussions continue, many questions remain unanswered regarding what constitutes approved data and technology, which systems may be affected, and how the regulations will apply to minor-league complexes versus stadiums. Front office personnel are expected to receive further clarification in an all-team memo, which should address the numerous uncertainties surrounding the transition.
The details of this evolving situation will be refined throughout the offseason, as executives await definitive answers about the future of technology and data in minor league baseball.
