PHOENIX – Cubs catcher Willson Contreras covered his right knee with his glove, his right hand busy pressing buttons under it. Lefty Justin Steele looked up just to give a quick nod and then delivered a called strike three, striking out the side in the second inning of the Cubs’ 3-2 win against the Diamondbacks on Sunday.
The frame would have flown by no matter how Contreras relayed pitch calls to Steele. But the PitchCom device attached to the top of the catcher’s shin guard and receiver in the pitcher’s hat shaved off the time between Steele digging in and reading the sign.