To settle the MLB Lockout, both the Players Union and owners agreed to some changes for the upcoming 2022 season.
One of these is the emergence of a new device called "PitchCom."
ESPN's Buster Olney reports that this device will transmit a signal between pitchers and catchers relaying what pitches need to be thrown; long-gone now are the days where catchers used hand signals to indicate what pitch they wanted to be thrown.
MLB chief operations and strategy officer Chris Marinak said, "It basically eliminates all need to create a sign system, for a catcher giving signs. You literally just press a button and it delivers the pitch call to the pitcher. And what we've seen so far, it really improves pace of game."
This is all an effort by MLB to curb sign stealing in the game, which infamously helped the Astros secure a World Series championship in 2017 after the team used a system to indicate batters of what pitches were coming using bangs on a trashcan emanating from the dugout.
Up to three teammates of the pitcher and catcher will also have access to the signals, with the intent to aid fielders in positioning.
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