HarbourCats, NightOwls bring in anti sign-stealing technology
Catchers will use button pad to call pitches, like in MLB
The Victoria HarbourCats and Nanimo NightOwls won’t be worried about opposing teams stealing their catcher’s signs this season in the West Coast League.
They will be the first baseball clubs in Canada, other than the Toronto Blue Jays of MLB, to employ the PitchCom system, which allows the catcher to electronically convey signals to the pitcher with no chance of them being intercepted by the opposing team.
It is described as a one-way communication system that enables the catcher to call for the pitch type by pressing a small button pad. Audio receivers allow the pitcher and an infielder to hear the pitch selection. The system was developed to thwart the rampant sign-stealing in baseball.
Jim Swanson, managing partner of the group that owns the HarbourCats and NightOwls, said his organization is committed to bringing the highest level of technology to an organization he noted has produced five HarbourCats alumni who are playing or have played in the MLB in the nine years of franchise history, including Andrew Vaughn of the Chicago White Sox and hometown product Nick Pivetta, who threw five innings of shutout ball to help his Boston Red Sox beat the Oakland A’s 1-0 on Wednesday.
There were 37 WCL alumni on MLB opening-day rosters this year. They include Pivetta, Vaughn, AL all-star Adley Rutschman, 2020 AL Cy Young Award winner Shane Bieber, two-time AL Gold Glove Award winner Steven Kwan and Detroit Tigers opening-day starter Tarik Skubal. A total of 62 WCL alumni played in MLB last season.
“Everything we do is geared to preparing our exceptional college players for entry into the pro level. We prepare players for the next level and for how the game has changed,” said Swanson.
“Everybody has heard of the [Houston Astros] garbage can scandal. It’s probably more widespread than people realized. This is a way to circumvent that.”
Swanson said returning HarbourCats and NightOwls players, particularly the battery-position players, have already reached out to him upon hearing the news: “Several have called. They think it’s cool. This will help our catchers and pitchers in particular get ready for the technology at the pro level.”
The PitchCom system will also be used by the Victoria Golden Tide, the HarbourCats’ Canadian collegiate development team. The system is widely used in the U.S. collegiate NCAA. All MLB teams and almost all minor-pro teams now use it.
The HarbourCats open the 2024 WCL season May 31 in Kamloops against the NorthPaws. The home opener at Royal Athletic Park is June 7 against the Wenatchee AppleSox.
The NightOwls open May 31 in Kelowna against the Falcons. The first home game at Serauxmen Stadium is June 4 against the Cowlitz Black Bears.