By Jed Langer
Baseball has always been a sport of strategy, tradition, and a little bit of magic. From the crack of the bat to the art of the perfect curveball, it’s a game that’s as much about numbers as it is about moments. But in 2025, baseball is embracing the future with a powerful new teammate: artificial intelligence (AI). And just like a five-tool player, AI is bringing a little bit of everything—precision, insight, and innovation.
From scouting and in-game strategy to fan engagement and officiating, AI is reshaping how baseball is played, coached, and enjoyed. The result? A sport that’s smarter, faster, and more captivating than ever.
Scouting Supercharged: The Rise of AI Analytics
For decades, baseball scouting has relied on a mix of intuition and experience, with scouts poring over games and player stats to spot the next superstar. Now, AI is taking that process to the next level.
Using machine learning, systems like Statcast analyze every aspect of a player’s performance, from swing mechanics to pitching velocity. Want to know the spin rate on a rookie’s slider? Or how often a hitter squares up a fastball versus breaking pitches? AI has the data and can break it down faster than you can say, “launch angle.”
Take Shohei Ohtani—arguably the biggest star in the game. Teams have been using AI to study his unique ability to dominate both as a pitcher and a hitter. By crunching data from thousands of at-bats and pitches, AI provides insights like:
Ohtani’s batting average jumps 15% when facing fastballs above 95 mph.
His slider becomes nearly unhittable when thrown to the outside corner against right-handed batters.
This level of analysis doesn’t just help scouts evaluate talent—it helps players fine-tune their game. Coaches can use AI-driven tools to identify subtle flaws, like a batter’s tendency to drop their elbow on inside pitches or a pitcher’s decreased velocity in high-pressure innings.
AI-Powered Coaching: Strategy in Real Time
Baseball is a game of adjustments, and AI is empowering teams to adapt like never before. Picture this: it’s the bottom of the ninth, bases loaded, and your team’s closer is on the mound. The opposing batter has a history of hammering fastballs but struggles with low-and-away sliders. Thanks to AI, the coaching staff knows exactly how to attack him.
Systems like TrackMan and Rapsodo use real-time data to assess everything from pitch selection to defensive alignments. Managers can use these insights to make split-second decisions, like shifting an outfielder or calling for a specific pitch sequence.
One example of this in action? Defensive shifts. AI analyzes spray charts and hit probabilities to position fielders in the most optimal spots. Gone are the days when teams relied solely on gut instincts—now, even the slightest tendencies are accounted for. And while some purists bemoan the rise of “shift-heavy” baseball, there’s no denying the impact.
Flawless Officiating: Enter the Robo-Ump
Few things spark more heated debates in baseball than umpire calls—especially balls and strikes. Enter the “robo-ump,” a system of AI-powered technology that ensures every call is accurate to the millimeter.
The Automated Ball-Strike System (ABS) uses high-speed cameras and advanced algorithms to track the ball’s path from the pitcher’s hand to the catcher’s mitt. By comparing the ball’s position to the strike zone, ABS delivers instant, precise calls.
Traditionalists may cringe at the idea of replacing human umpires, but the system has its perks. No more blown calls on critical pitches, and no more players or managers losing their cool over a missed strike. Plus, ABS is freeing up umpires to focus on other aspects of the game, like player safety and enforcing new rules.
And let’s not forget the entertainment factor—who doesn’t love hearing the crowd erupt when an AI strike call pops up on the scoreboard?
Fan Experience: Baseball, Your Way
AI isn’t just changing the game for players and coaches—it’s transforming how fans interact with the sport. Whether you’re watching at home or at the ballpark, AI is delivering a more personalized, immersive experience.
Imagine you’re a die-hard fan of Aaron Judge. With AI-powered apps, you can create a custom highlight reel of his best moments—whether it’s his towering home runs or clutch defensive plays. Just type a query like, “Show me Judge’s longest homers of the season,” and the AI does the rest.
Stadiums are also using AI to enhance the in-game experience. At places like Fenway Park and Dodger Stadium, apps can provide real-time stats, suggest the shortest concession stand lines, and even predict the likelihood of your team staging a comeback based on historical data.
Training Smarter, Not Harder
In the training world, AI is helping players refine their skills like never before. Systems like Driveline Baseball use biomechanics and AI to analyze everything from swing mechanics to pitching form. These tools identify inefficiencies, helping players maximize their performance while minimizing injury risks.
For pitchers, AI tracks arm angles, release points, and spin rates, offering recommendations to improve control and velocity. Hitters, meanwhile, can use AI to simulate at-bats against specific pitchers, complete with virtual reality setups that mimic real-life conditions.
The Future of AI in Baseball
As AI continues to evolve, it raises intriguing possibilities for the future of baseball. Will AI-driven strategies eventually become so advanced that they eliminate the element of surprise? Could players use predictive analytics to anticipate pitches with uncanny accuracy?
While these questions remain unanswered, one thing is clear: AI is here to stay, and it’s transforming every aspect of the game.
Conclusion: A New Era of Baseball
Baseball has always been a game of numbers, but in 2025, those numbers have become smarter, faster, and more impactful. From scouting and training to strategy and fan engagement, AI is shaping the sport in ways we couldn’t have imagined a decade ago.
The beauty of baseball lies in its balance—between tradition and innovation, human skill and technological precision. As the game embraces AI, it’s not losing its heart—it’s gaining a new dimension.
So the next time you watch a game, keep an eye on that perfectly positioned outfielder or the flawless strike call. Behind the scenes, AI is quietly revolutionizing the sport we love, one pitch at a time.
