Major League Baseball is discussing the idea of using on-field technology to encode communication between pitchers and catchers and help prevent sign-stealing, reports Hannah Keyser of Yahoo Sports.
The commissioner's office is developing several prototype devices, sources told Keyser, including a wearable random-number generator and lights in the mound.
The number generator is comparable to push passwords used for secure log-ins, reports Keyser, and would correspond to which signs in a sequence of conventional signals from the catcher are valid.
The light system would reportedly give catchers access to the control pad for a lighting panel that's only visible to the pitcher, and a certain light sequence would correspond to a certain pitch.
While earpieces were widely assumed to be the simplest and most obvious solution, minor-league pitchers who tested prototypes while throwing bullpens last year said they were distracting and uncomfortable, a source told Keyser.
The league reportedly discussed the new devices with front-office personnel at industry meetings and hopes some prototypes will be ready in time for players to give feedback this spring.
Concerns about sign-stealing rose after the Houston Astros were accused of electronically stealing signs in 2017 by pitcher Mike Fiers, who previously played for the team.
The Astros are currently under investigation by MLB.
