League restricts iPad use in dugouts after AI decision tools surface

League officials made custom tabs inaccessible on dugout tablets starting Wednesday night. The tablets had previously allowed access to video, league data, and team-installed programs. An executive vice president of baseball operations wrote in a June 11 memo that the tabs had expanded iPad use to include recommendations on substitutions, pitch calling, and other decisions traditionally made by players and coaches.

The memo went to general managers, assistant general managers, and video coordinators. A competition committee review found that clubs had complied with prior regulations. Officials still chose to restrict the tabs after learning of the new programs.

Access expanded in 2016 under a deal with Apple. Video was removed from the tablets in 2020 after the Houston Astros sign-stealing scandal and restored in 2021.

player reactions Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider said the biggest concern involved calling pitches and seeing how technology could evolve decisions in real time. Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said the change had not affected his team but noted that AI was entering the sport.

New York Yankees captain Aaron Judge said he read about the practice and could not believe teams were making decisions off of AI. Former reliever Adam Ottavino said on his YouTube livestream that the New York Mets had used an AI program for pitch selection and other decisions.

“The program cost several hundred thousand dollars and was funded by owner Steve Cohen." — Adam Ottavino, former Mets pitcher, on his YouTube livestream. Ottavino, who pitched for the Mets from 2022 to 2024, stated that the Mets were the main team that prompted the crackdown. The Mets did not comment when asked for a response.”