21-05-2025
Does The MLB App Offer A Glimpse of Vision Pro's Future?
Photo Credit: @ianzelbo/Twitter
Watch baseball like never before with the Vision Pro.
If you follow tech trends, you'll be well aware that Apple Vision Pro has been a bit of a flop for a company that usually lists most of its hardware releases in the win column. The AR/VR device, which went on sale last year, is reportedly in a paused production state. That does not mean Apple has given up on the device – far from it – but reports suggest that the number of units shipped is way down on expectations.
The Vision Pro has many issues, ranging from the huge price tag (around $3K, excluding extras) to comfort issues due to the device's weight. However, there is also a consensus that a lack of 'killer' apps has meant that the Vision Pro does not give tech fans a reason to buy it. It feels different from the early days of the iPhone, when developers were scrambling to build for the new world of mobile apps.
Live stats and an immersive experience
Yet, some interesting apps seem like a perfect fit for Vision Pro, and one that Apple has been making a big push on is the MLB app. Before the start of the 2025 MLB season, Apple released a series of promotional videos and articles highlighting how baseball fans can experience the games in whole new ways. While there are still areas of improvement, Apple has made a compelling case.
You'll need the MLB App (free) and MLB TV (subscription required to watch the games) to get the most out of it. Once you have them, the Vision Pro can take you into the game (almost literally), creating a 3D immersive ballpark, allowing you to sit behind Home Plate, switching from the pitcher's view to the batter's view, and so on. It's like a blend of being in the ballpark and having the controls to the television broadcast.
One thing that stands out is the data feeds. Baseball fans love stats (perhaps more than any other sport), and we could see the concept of getting a constant flow of statistics being used for bettors weighing up the value of MLB lines for betting live in-game. The stats tell the story of a game, such as when a pitcher's velocity is starting to slow down, potentially telling you that the momentum will shift.
Golf would also be a good fit for Vision Pro.
As mentioned, it does not feel like the finished article just yet. This is the second MLB season where the app is compatible with Vision Pro. However, it feels like more of a glimpse of the possibilities of where we can go with the technology rather than the endpoint of a journey. There have been several articles posted by baseball experts and fans, all of whom are universal in their praise for the platform to watch the games, so that should be heartening for Apple as it ponders what to do next with Vision Pro.
Arguably, not all sports would be suitable for this treatment. The pace of soccer and basketball makes it a little tricky to put into this format, but you might say that golf could – and should – be the next sport that Apple tries to bring onto the platform in a big way. The pace and mechanics of the game are similar to baseball, so it would feel like a similar fit to see immersive action at iconic courses like Pebble Beach and Augusta National. There is some compatibility already with the PGA Tour app, but it's not as immersive as the MLB app.
What will be interesting is to see what Apple says at WWDC 2025 in June. The annual event is where Apple announces new products, updates, and a direction of travel for the company. It was at WWDC 2023 when Apple first announced the Vision Pro. Can it give us a hint that it will breathe new life into a struggling but impressive piece of hardware? Maybe sports are the best way to get back on track.
