High N Tight

In today’s issue:

• What if AI took over MLB from Top to Bottom?

• Where are the baseball AI Jobs?

• Minor Thief

• Torpedo Update

• And more…

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BEST LINKS

My favorite finds

🔗 10 Baseball Books All Leaders Should Be Reading(LinkedIn)

🔗 Covering Bases: Balancing Work and Family For the Home Run(LinkedIn)

🔗 The Psychological Catch Mental Skills For Game Day(Linkedin)

🔗 Here's how you can buy a torpedo bat(Arizona Republic)

• 5 Best Youth Baseball Gloves For Beginners in 2025

• 5 Best Batting Practice Baseballs For Little League in 2025

• 7 Best Catching Gear Sets For Little Leaguers in 2025

Follow our blog at box-seats.com for more tools and tips

DEEP DIVE

What If AI Took Over Baseball From Top to Bottom?

Would You Cheer for a Team Run by Algorithms?

Okay, hear me out—this might sound like a sci-fi flick gone rogue, but what if artificial intelligence didn’t just assist in baseball... what if it ran the whole show?

From front offices to dugouts, from trades to training, every aspect of the game managed by sleek, emotionless, number-crunching algorithms.

Stay with me.

Game Day, 2035

The scent of fresh-cut grass still fills the air. Fans are piling into the stands, hot dogs in hand, energy building with every step toward first pitch.

On the field? Players are stretching, locked in, ready to go.

In the dugout?

No grizzled, sunflower-spitting manager pacing and yelling.

Just a glowing server rack named CoachBot9000, quietly running millions of simulations to decide everything—from pinch hitters to mascot dance routines.

Sounds ridiculous?

Maybe…but not impossible.

But look at the game now. Statcast. Hawk-Eye. AI-enhanced scouting. The foundation’s already here.

So let’s lean into the absurd. What would a totally AI-run baseball world really look like?

Welcome to the AI Front Office

No scouts huddled around grainy video. No GMs pacing and panic-dialing rival execs.

Instead?

An AI general manager calculating every trade, contract, and roster move with data from decades of performance trends, stadium factors, and even biometric analysis.

Want to know if that rookie shortstop’s stride length will reduce his range by 2028?

The Algorithmic GM already knows.

Trade Talks, AI Style

Negotiations? Forget the drama. Two algorithms ping each other back and forth:

It’s just cold, efficient math.

Better results? Probably.
More fun? Depends how you feel about spontaneous 3-team blockbusters over beers at the winter meetings.

Smarter Player Development (But Less Soul?)

Coaching gets an upgrade too. Every athlete becomes a walking data set.

Meet Your New Pitching Coach: The Machine

Instead of, “Trust your stuff,” pitchers get:

Machines can fix your mechanics. But can they fire you up after giving up a bomb in the 8th?

Virtual Reality Hitting Practice

Hitters throw on VR headsets and face digital clones of Max Scherzer for hours before a game. By first pitch, they’ve seen every wrinkle of his slider.

“Great, I hit .375 against Virtual Max. Too bad Real Max upgraded his firmware.”

Injury Prevention Goes Sci-Fi

AI might shine brightest here. Subtle movement changes? Red flags before injuries happen?

Incredible, right?

But who’s there to say, “You’ve got this” after a long rehab? The algorithm doesn’t give fist bumps.

The Automated Dugout: Glorious or Grim?

The manager—once the heart of the dugout—is now CoachBot9000, running real-time simulations.

Pitch Sequences by Algorithm

Pitch calling becomes surgical:

Even bullpen usage goes full cyborg:

Efficient? Totally.
But what about those moments where gut instinct triumphs? Where belief in a struggling pitcher leads to magic?

Man vs. Machine: Dugout Drama in the Age of AI

Players don’t just play the game—they feel it. They get mad. They slam bats. They bark at coaches. But what happens when your “coach” is a circuit board with no eyebrows to raise?

Arguing With the Algorithm

Picture it:
A pitcher storms off the mound after getting yanked mid-inning. In the dugout, he starts yelling:

And there’s CoachBot9000, whirring calmly:

Where do you throw your glove? At the server tower?

Do Players Unplug Their Manager?
Imagine a player furiously mashing a ‘mute’ button on the touchscreen.

Or better yet—reprogramming the AI in secret:

Robo Ump Showdowns

Now take the fiery player-umpire drama and replace the ump with a glowing metal torso, glowing red eyes, and no tolerance for sass.

A batter strikes out on a pitch an inch off the zone. He turns to bark... but RoboUmp doesn't flinch.

He kicks dirt in protest—but the robo ump detects “hostile terrain manipulation.”

Penalty issued. Ejection confirmed.

Fans boo. The bot doesn't care.

Brawls With Bots?

What happens when benches clear and the umpire just hovers 10 feet in the air, projecting a calming voice?

Yeah. Good luck diffusing a dugout full of boiling testosterone with a Siri monotone.

When the System Breaks

It was bound to happen.

One night in late June, during a tight game between the Yankees and Astros, something… glitched. RoboUmp begins calling every pitch—regardless of location—a strike.

High heat? Strike.
In the dirt? Strike.
Four feet outside? STRIKE.

At first, everyone froze. Then chaos exploded.

Batters stood like statues, staring into the void.

Pitchers laughed nervously. Coaches waved frantically at the control tower.

One batter stepped out, looked at the blinking red eyes of RoboUmp, and muttered:

The ump’s response?

The Human Factor

Here’s the thing—baseball isn’t perfect. That’s what makes it beautiful.

Would AI prevent bad calls and optimize every move? Sure.

But Babe Ruth calling his shot? The algorithm would’ve called it "low probability".

We need the mistakes, the chaos, the joy of watching someone defy the odds.

Because baseball isn’t just data. It’s stories. It’s heart.

Final Thoughts

AI is already reshaping the game—scouting, injuries, analytics—it’s all happening.

And yeah, a future where algorithms run baseball top to bottom is technically possible.

But let’s hope we always save a seat for the wild hunch, the gut call, the “no way they just did that!” moments.

Because that’s what makes baseball worth watching.

Even CoachBot9000 would agree… if it had feelings.

What part of the AI future excites—or terrifies—you most? Hit reply

Wanna Work in Baseball?
🤖 The Future of AI-Driven Baseball Jobs: 5 Opportunities to Watch

So playing in the big leagues didn’t happen—but working in baseball still can.

And now, thanks to artificial intelligence, the door is wide open.

AI is transforming the game from top to bottom—how players train, how fans engage, and how teams strategize.

With that shift comes a new wave of baseball careers for folks who understand both the tech and the sport.

Here are 5 AI-powered baseball jobs that could define the next decade:

1. Baseball Analytics AI Engineer

What it is: A role where tech experts build AI systems that help teams analyze player data, game strategies, and overall team performance. Think of it as the brains behind the data-driven decisions you see in the game.

Skills needed: Strong knowledge of machine learning, data science, and sports analytics. Python is a big plus.

Why it matters: With more teams turning to data, the need for smart systems to crunch numbers grows. Analytics isn’t just for fantasy sports—it’s crucial for team success.

2. Player Development AI Specialist

What it is: These pros use AI to create personalized training plans for players. By analyzing a player’s movements, strengths, and weaknesses, they help athletes improve faster and stay in top shape.

Skills needed: Knowledge of biomechanics, performance analysis, and AI-driven training techniques.

Why it matters: It’s a whole new world of player development. Instead of using just old-school methods, they have real-time data to support training.

3. Biomechanical AI Systems Designer

What it is: These experts design systems that track player movements and detect injury risks using AI. It’s all about helping athletes stay healthy and preventing injuries before they happen.

Skills needed: A solid understanding of biomechanics, AI, and motion tracking.

Why it matters: Injuries are a huge part of sports. By preventing them, players can stay on the field longer and be more effective.

4. Baseball Computer Vision Developer

What it is: Computer vision experts work on AI systems that can analyze game footage. Whether it’s tracking pitch speed, swing mechanics, or fielding, these developers are working to make real-time video analysis smarter and more precise.

Skills needed: Expertise in computer vision, programming (Python, C++), and video analysis.

Why it matters: AI can now process game footage and extract insights instantly, making scouting, coaching, and even the fan experience faster and more efficient.

5. Fan Experience AI Designer

What it is: AI isn't just for the players—it’s changing how fans experience baseball too! These designers use AI to create personalized, interactive fan experiences both at the stadium and online.

Skills needed: Knowledge of AI, user experience design, and fan engagement strategies.

Why it matters: Fans want more than just a game—they want an experience. Personalized interactions, smart recommendations, and immersive experiences are the future.

Why These Jobs Are the Future of the Game

Teams and organizations are investing in AI more than ever. Whether it’s optimizing player performance or enhancing fan engagement, AI is no longer just a buzzword—it’s transforming the entire industry.

Even if you're not a player, there’s a place for you in baseball's future. Whether you have a tech background, an understanding of sports, or both, there’s a growing demand for these roles.

As AI continues to grow in baseball, these roles will become even more essential.

Stay ahead of the curve by exploring these opportunities and start honing the skills that will make you a key player in the sport’s tech-driven future.

To Catch a Thief

This one definitely caught my eye.

Minor leaguer Emaarion Boyd turned the base paths into his personal playground this week—stealing six bases in one game... without even getting a hit!

Who needs hits when you’ve got jet fuel in your cleats?

Boyd became the first minor leaguer in 20 years to swipe six bags without a single hit.

He reached base on a fielder’s choice, a walk, and a hit-by-pitch—and then stole second and third each time.

The 21-year-old walked again in the ninth and had his eyes set on eight, but a runner ahead of him shut down the runway.

Darn! Had to settle for six.

Oh, and the last time a major leaguer pulled this off? 

1901. 

Yeah—back when gloves looked like oven mitts.

Keep on stealing, Emaarion.

At this rate, the big leagues won’t be able to ignore you much longer.

🧨 Torpedo Update: The Bat Heard ’Round the League

What’s a week in baseball without a shoutout to the early-season MVP—not a player, but the bat that's stealing the spotlight: The Fabulous Torpedo Bat.

With its funky, bowling-pin-meets-barrel design, the Torpedo Bat has gone from novelty to necessity. Originally turning heads in the Bronx, the Yankees were the first to unleash it—but now, at least 18 players across 8 teams have joined the revolution.

We’re talking dingers, doubles, and a whole lot of buzz.

Is it too soon to crown it the most influential gear of 2025? Maybe. But one thing’s crystal clear:

⚾️🔥 The Torpedo Bat is the loudest thing in baseball—and not just when it cracks a homer.

📢 Quote of the Week

"I knew the record would stand until it was broken.” - Yogi Berra

THAT’S A WRAP

See ya next week

John Boxley

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