Major League Baseball has implemented new restrictions on the use of iPads in dugouts to prevent teams from leveraging artificial intelligence for real-time strategic decisions.
The policy, which took effect at the start of the second half of the 2026 season, limits access to custom tabs on the devices that had allowed expanded functionality beyond viewing video and league-provided data.
According to a June 11 memo from MLB executive vice president of baseball operations Morgan Sword, some clubs had installed custom apps enabling recommendations on substitutions, pitch calling, and other in-game choices traditionally handled by players and coaches. An estimated third of teams utilized these enhancements to varying degrees.
“In many cases, the custom tab had expanded the use of the dugout iPads beyond their originally intended purpose to include recommendations regarding substitutions, pitch calling, and other in-game decisions traditionally made by players and coaches,” Sword wrote.
MLB acted after determining the practice exceeded the original intent of the iPad pilot program, which began in 2015 and expanded in 2016.
Former New York Mets reliever Adam Ottavino, now a broadcaster, highlighted the Mets’ involvement on his Baseball & Coffee livestream. He claimed the team invested hundreds of thousands of dollars in an expensive AI program for pitch prediction and related assistance, with some within the organization reportedly bragging about the technology early in the season.
Ottavino noted that while other clubs employed similar tools, the Mets drew particular attention, prompting MLB to intervene swiftly. The Mets declined to comment on the matter.
The decision has sparked varied reactions across the league. New York Yankees captain Aaron Judge expressed surprise at the extent of AI reliance, while managers like Toronto’s John Schneider and Arizona’s Torey Lovullo acknowledged the evolving role of technology in baseball.
“I read the article and I was like, I can’t believe what I’m seeing,” Judge said, via ESPN. “Teams are making decisions off of AI? Man, that’s just crazy.”
Sword emphasized that the change provides teams time to adjust without penalties, as a review confirmed prior compliance.
This move underscores MLB’s ongoing effort to balance innovation with the human elements of strategy following past controversies like the Astros’ sign-stealing scandal. As AI continues to influence sports, the league aims to preserve traditional decision-making while maintaining competitive integrity.
