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MLB Bans Generative AI on Dugout Tablets After New York Mets Use Comes Under Scrutiny
In a move that could reshape the modern game, Major League Baseball announced on Thursday, July 16 2026, that generative artificial intelligence is no longer permitted on the league‑provided iPads teams use in the dugout.
The ruling follows reports that several clubs had installed custom applications extending the tablets’ functions beyond their intended purpose of delivering video, statistics and other data. According to a report from The Athletic, the MLB commissioner’s office discovered that many teams had modified the iPads to receive real‑time recommendations for substitutions, pitch calling and other in‑game decisions traditionally made by managers and coaches.
The New York Mets emerged as the most prominently cited team in the investigation. Former Mets reliever Adam Ottavino revealed that the club had spent “hundreds of thousands of dollars” on an AI program that could predict the type of pitch a pitcher would throw during a game. Ottavino added that the Mets were “bragging about it a little bit, early on in the year,” and that some coaches he knew were discussing the technology with colleagues across the league.
He stated, “They had, basically, an AI program helping them pick pitches and I think some other stuff. But MLB got wind of it and nipped that right in the bud.”
While Ottavino confirmed that the Mets were not the only team using such technology, he said they were the most predominant users. The league’s new ban will prohibit any generative AI on the dugout tablets, effectively eliminating the ability for teams to rely on machine‑generated pitch‑prediction or decision‑support tools during games. The rule is intended to preserve the traditional decision‑making process between managers, coaches and players.
The Mets’ offensive struggles this season add context to the controversy. The club ranks 25th in runs per game, averaging 4.10 runs, the lowest in the league. If the AI system was intended to give hitters an edge in anticipating pitches, its removal could exacerbate the team’s offensive woes.
The Mets, who have played at Citi Field since 2009, have been in a rebuilding phase under owner Steve Cohen, who purchased the franchise in 2020 for $2.4 billion.
The ban comes as MLB continues to grapple with the rapid adoption of advanced analytics and technology in baseball. The league’s decision to prohibit generative AI on dugout tablets underscores its commitment to maintaining competitive balance and ensuring that in‑game strategy remains a human endeavor. The Mets will now have to rely on traditional scouting reports and player judgment for the remainder of the season.
The rule will take effect immediately, and MLB has stated that any team found in violation will face penalties. The Mets’ coaching staff has yet to issue a public statement regarding the ban, and it remains unclear how the team will adjust its in‑game decision‑making process. As the season progresses, the impact of the ban on team performance and the broader conversation about technology in sports will continue to unfold.
The ruling follows reports that several clubs had installed custom applications extending the tablets’ functions beyond their intended purpose of delivering video, statistics and other data. According to a report from The Athletic, the MLB commissioner’s office discovered that many teams had modified the iPads to receive real‑time recommendations for substitutions, pitch calling and other in‑game decisions traditionally made by managers and coaches.
The New York Mets emerged as the most prominently cited team in the investigation. Former Mets reliever Adam Ottavino revealed that the club had spent “hundreds of thousands of dollars” on an AI program that could predict the type of pitch a pitcher would throw during a game. Ottavino added that the Mets were “bragging about it a little bit, early on in the year,” and that some coaches he knew were discussing the technology with colleagues across the league.
He stated, “They had, basically, an AI program helping them pick pitches and I think some other stuff. But MLB got wind of it and nipped that right in the bud.”
While Ottavino confirmed that the Mets were not the only team using such technology, he said they were the most predominant users. The league’s new ban will prohibit any generative AI on the dugout tablets, effectively eliminating the ability for teams to rely on machine‑generated pitch‑prediction or decision‑support tools during games. The rule is intended to preserve the traditional decision‑making process between managers, coaches and players.
The Mets’ offensive struggles this season add context to the controversy. The club ranks 25th in runs per game, averaging 4.10 runs, the lowest in the league. If the AI system was intended to give hitters an edge in anticipating pitches, its removal could exacerbate the team’s offensive woes.
The Mets, who have played at Citi Field since 2009, have been in a rebuilding phase under owner Steve Cohen, who purchased the franchise in 2020 for $2.4 billion.
The ban comes as MLB continues to grapple with the rapid adoption of advanced analytics and technology in baseball. The league’s decision to prohibit generative AI on dugout tablets underscores its commitment to maintaining competitive balance and ensuring that in‑game strategy remains a human endeavor. The Mets will now have to rely on traditional scouting reports and player judgment for the remainder of the season.
The rule will take effect immediately, and MLB has stated that any team found in violation will face penalties. The Mets’ coaching staff has yet to issue a public statement regarding the ban, and it remains unclear how the team will adjust its in‑game decision‑making process. As the season progresses, the impact of the ban on team performance and the broader conversation about technology in sports will continue to unfold.
