Major League Baseball (MLB) will now allow teams to use iPads in the dugout, making it more convenient for them to get various information such as scouting reports, statistics and spray charts.
In the past, teams would use paper binders which not only look bulky but also slow down the process of getting the same information.
However, the teams will not be allowed to connect their iPads to a Wi-Fi network when they are playing games. This means that they should have downloaded all the information that they need prior to the match.
The St. Louis Cardinals is one of the first teams to welcome the latest announced development. Mike Matheny, the team manager, normally uses up to three iPads when preparing and scouting for information before every game.
"If they want to see what somebody's tendencies are in a two-strike count against left-handed pitching, they can come over and open up that file and see it pretty quickly," said Matheny in a statement made to MLB News. "We're very open to new technology. We're just trying to figure out how this can help us."
Matheny believes that being able to cue up all information on an iPad screen will make things more efficient than before.
"I think anytime baseball is trying to be forward thinking, we're going to be right there with them," added Matheny.
With the proliferation of technology-equipped devices, it's no wonder why a number of sports and its players are already depending on the benefits offered by the world of technology.
In 2013, the NFL confirmed a deal with Microsoft which placed the company's Surface device as the league's official tablet.
Andre Iguodala, this year's MVP at the NBA Finals, said that wearable technology helped his team a lot in winning the championship.
"So for the Warriors, we had our heart monitors, and we had devices that could let us know if we've recovered from the previous game," said Iguodala in an interview.
MLB is also allowing teams to use their iPads during the postseason. Players have reportedly started using the iPads during their first games.
