Some MLB Clubs Showing Interest In Fireball Pitching Technology

The high-velocity pitching machine Fireball uses "robotics, automation and publicly available pitching data" to replicate specific pro pitchers, and it could be "placed inside ballparks so that batters practice against specific pitchers before or even during the game," according to Bob Fernandez of the PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER. Fireball has already been "programmed to throw" like the Yankees' Masahiro Tanaka, Red Sox' Chris Sale, Mets' Noah Syndergaard, Phillies' Aaron Nola and Astros' Justin Verlander. Phillies officials said that they "saw Fireball but thought that it was 'not sufficiently developed.'" The team added that the price of $300,000-400,000 was "not the issue in their decision." Fireball Owner Tom Noonan said that developers "improved the ball release timing and the air flow for sharper baseball movement." He added that the Nationals, Mariners, Dodgers, Mets, Cubs and White Sox have "expressed an interest in looking at Fireball" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 10/20).