KBO gives teams new pitch-calling equipment approved for immediate use

Representatives from 10 Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) clubs attend a briefing on the use of PitchCom technology at the KBO headquarters in the Gangnam district of Seoul, in this photo provided by the KBO, Monday. Yonhap

The Korean Baseball League announced Monday that it has equipped clubs with new devices that allow players to call balls without having to use traditional finger signals, adding that the devices have been approved for use since this week.

The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) said its 10 clubs and their minor league affiliates each received three PitchCom transmitters to call pitches and 12 receivers to listen to pitch calls on Monday. The KBO also briefed team officials on their use of PitchCom.

Teams will be able to use them starting with Tuesday’s games, although use of the technology is optional.

Major League Baseball (MLB) began using PitchCom in 2022. PitchCom aims to both speed up play and prevent opposing pitchers from stealing signals by eliminating the need for catchers to signal pitchers.

The transmitter has nine buttons to call throws and their locations. The catcher can wear the remote-style device on his forearm or knee.

The pitcher, catcher and up to three other players in the field may wear a receiver under their cap.

A pitcher can also wear a transmitter to call his own pitches, either in his glove or on his forearm. In the MLB, pitchers wear it on their belt.

The KBO has announced that PitchCom cannot be used in the dugout or bullpen.

According to the KBO, team managers suggested implementing PitchCom earlier this season at a meeting, and league officials briefed managers and captains during the recent All-Star break on the potential use of the technology.

The KBO has implemented many of the same changes that MLB has implemented in recent years. Like MLB, the KBO has banned fielding changes, expanded the bases, and has now introduced PitchCom into the game.

This season, the KBO also tried to implement a pitch clock, which limits the amount of time a pitcher has before throwing the ball. The initial plan was to test it in the first half of the season and implement it in the second half. Facing strong opposition from all teams, the KBO decided to adopt the pitch clock starting in 2025. (Yonhap)