MLB today at the Winter Meetings in Las Vegas is holding its first-ever Baseball Operations Tech Expo, representing a collection of 23 companies operating in wearables, virtual reality, training, video and data analysis, injury prevention, and other performance-related sports tech areas. The Expo will operate in a closed environment, separate from the main Winter Meetings Trade Show, where team execs can meet with the various companies and demo their products in a much more private setting. The project, spearheaded by MLB Exec VP/Strategy, Technology & Innovation Chris Marinak, arrives in part after receiving numerous requests from individual clubs to be able to see the same kind of pitches from sports technology companies the league office does. “In some of our club markets, it’s just not as easy or efficient to see the kinds of things we get to see in New York. So we’re trying to create a structure where all the teams can have access to this,” Marinak said. “But even more broadly, we want to continue to develop and cultivate a culture of innovation around the game.” MLB curated the selection of the companies at the Expo for those with an operating competency around baseball. But the league is not making any endorsements or recommendations of any individual companies beyond that. The league still has four tech companies with wearable or sensor products approved for in-game use: Catapult, Motus Global, Whoop and Zephyr Technology. But many more companies have products that have been cleared for players to use during practice, workouts and other non-game situations. “The Tech Expo is an opportunity to be included in a group of technologies deemed to be important and/or utilized by a significant number of teams to raise visibility to all those around the game,” said Blast Motion MLB Channel Manager Justin Goltz, whose swing sensor company will be appearing at the event.
MONEY BALL: MLB, meanwhile, is developing a structure to invest in early-stage tech companies. While not yet as formal or established as other league investment vehicles, like the NFL’s 32 Equity arm, the core idea for baseball is to use central fund revenues and its Baseball Endowment L.P. fund to make smaller investments in emerging companies. Investments would typically be in the six- to mid-seven figure range. “We’re just getting started with this, but we’re looking to have more regular, iterative activity around this and go beyond a one-off investment like the one we just made in Rawlings,” Marinak said. “The Rawlings deal has been great, but we want to do more of this, and be more active around early-stage outfits.” No deals have been finalized yet, but activity is expected in ’19. MLB team owners were briefed on the developing investment plan during last month’s fall business meeting in Atlanta.
