ATLANTA – Don’t expect to see Cincinnati Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson drop into a crouch and signal signs this season.
The Reds are committed to using PitchCom at the beginning of the season, an anti-sign-stealing technology where the catcher will signal pitches to the pitcher through buttons on a wristband. The pitcher and three fielders will wear receivers in their cap that will announce the pitch and location.
Major League Baseball approved the technology this week and Reds pitchers and catchers were unanimously in favor of it after experimenting with it in spring training. There are nine buttons on the wrist band and the pitcher will hear the pitch – “fastball,” “curveball,” “slider,” etc.