Partnership Between MLB & Apple Brings The League Into 21st Century

Major League Baseball is joining the 21st century by getting rid of binders and running to the clubhouse to check film.

MLB commissioner Rob Manfred recently took to CBS ‘This Morning’ to share the news that Apple and the MLB have stuck a new deal which will allow coaches and managers to use iPads in the dugouts.

“I started in this game 25 years ago and the single biggest change has been the emergence and predominance of analytics. It affects the way we judge players, make decisions on the field and the way fans consume the game,”  said Manfred.

Testing of the iPads began in 2015 during the postseason. A 12.9” iPad will be displayed in a case with an MLB logo and preloaded with a new custom software offering from MLB Advanced Media. Teams will be able to sift through performance stats from current and past seasons to assist in decision making.

Phil Schiller, Apple’s Senior Vice President of Marketing said, “We’re not just replacing binders with tablets, we’re actually helping them do things that weren’t possible before.”

Just as Microsoft has benefited from having their brand displayed by the NFL, Apple should see the same benefits with their brand being available to the MLB.

Source: Wall Street Journal, Forbes