Controversial Electronic Wristbands Display Pitch Calls For Players

In-game electronic communication is now legal in college baseball, as a new technology allows the pitcher and catcher—and all 9 players on the field—to learn the next pitch call from looking at their electronic wristbands. 

Broadcasters explain that all nine Vanderbilt players are wearing electronic wristbands showing what pitch the coach is calling from the dugout

It’s the first year this is legal in college baseball pic.twitter.com/AohbaLEGfs

— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) February 20, 2022

Baseball traditionalists might cringe at the idea, but Vanderbilt is using the wristbands after testing them in training. The technology means, as noted by the broadcast, that Vanderbilt catchers would not call a single pitch all season. The pitches are now called from the dugout, as a pitching coach types the pitch call into a keypad, as you can see in the video. 

It's called an "Electronic Display Board", and as of this season, college teams are allowed to utilize these one-way electronic communications to signal pitches.

With all the fielders knowing what the next pitch is, and the location it's intended for, it can allow them to position themselves accordingly. It would appear, however, that with this system in place, the pitcher will no longer be able to shake off a pitch call. 

Coaches shouldn’t have to call pitches after a month into the season. There’s only one guy in the yard who knows what pitch they want to throw in any given situation and that’s the pitcher. The best coaches are the ones that empower players to make these decisions themselves

— Stephen Schoch (@bigdonkey47) February 20, 2022

Bottom line: No more stealing signs from a runner on 2nd base peering in at the catcher's hand signals. And no more garbage cans or other spying schemes to steal a catcher's signs. 

This kind of technology could have saved the Houston Astros a lot of trouble.

Photo Credit: Andrew Nelles / Tennessean.com / USA TODAY NETWORK