Baseball is a game that is always changing and evolving to make the sport better.  Introduced in the 2022-23 season, teams were trying to find a way to relay signs from their coach, to the catcher, then to the pitcher.  New technology this year is supposed to speed up the game and allow teams to give signs without them being stolen.  

The “PitchCom” communication device was experimented with in the 2022 Spring Training, where teams were given the opportunity to try them out to see if it was a good alternative for giving signs in the regular season.  Senior baseball player and fan, Jared McCormack (22) said, “I like it. There is no way to steal signs now and it definitely speeds the game up because you don’t have to wait for all the hand signals.”  

Sign stealing has been a big deal after the controversy in the 2017 World Series, when the Houston Astros were caught stealing signs, so “PitchCom” may be the way of the future for baseball so it doesn’t happen again.

The new device works by the catcher having a pad within his shin guard.  The pad is equipped with multiple buttons that the catcher will click and it will relay the message to anyone wearing the earpiece within their hat.  Another senior baseball player, Dirk Duncan (22) said, “It’s a good deal because the Astros can’t be caught cheating now.”  Teams like the New York Yankees and Kansas City Royals have been using this new method of communication throughout the season and have not experienced many problems with it just over 20 games into the new year.  McCormack said, “I think it’s fine to choose if you want to do it or not, but I think a lot of teams will do it eventually because it is just better.”  

With the game ever-changing with new baseballs, pitch clocks, and video in the dugout, the “PitchCom” is just another addition to America’s favorite pastime.