MLB has effectively outlawed teams from using generative artificial intelligence via those dugout iPads for in-game strategy, and get this: roughly a third of the league was already leaning on it. Yeah, you read that right. According to Eno Sarris over at The Athletic, this isn't some fringe idea; it was a growing practice for shaping crucial decisions on the field. The ban reportedly kicked in on Wednesday, just ahead of the second half of the 2026 season, which means some serious changes hit the dugouts pretty fast.
The Commissioner's Office Dropped the Memo
So what happened? The commissioner's office fired off a memo on June 11, laying down the law. It seems teams were installing custom apps on those league-provided iPads, pushing them way "beyond their originally intended purpose." We're talking about AI feeding recommendations for substitutions, pitch calling, and all sorts of other in-game decisions. You know, the stuff that used to be solely in the hands of our players and coaches. This wasn't just hypothetical, either. People with direct knowledge of the tech told Sarris that as much as "a third of the league used the dugout iPads for at least one of these purposes." Imagine that: one in three teams getting computer advice on what pitch to throw next or who to sub in. Wild, right?"Gotta Stop the Cheating" Before It Starts
This decision to ban AI, while aiming to level the playing field, definitely hasn't been met with universal praise. Sarris noted that some front-office folks, especially those in innovation and R&D, are feeling the heat and are "frustrated." One high-ranking official from an MLB team's research and development department flat-out said, "It's caused quite the stir." The biggest sticking point? Pitch calling. Apparently, some teams were inputting live game info to refine their generative AI models, trying to get an edge on anticipating or even recommending the next pitch. That's a huge competitive advantage, if you ask me. As one front office executive put it, they just "Gotta stop the cheating before there's cheating now." It sounds like the league saw a slippery slope and decided to slam on the brakes before things got completely out of hand. Now, with the second half of the season underway, every team's back to relying on human brains for those critical split-second calls. It'll be fascinating to see if this levels things out even more across the league. No more supercomputers whispering in the manager's ear; it's just pure baseball intuition from here on out.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.