Latest news with #PitcherNet
Global News
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Global News
University of Waterloo researchers develop AI technology for Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles have called on researchers from the University of Waterloo to help them improve their pitching through the use of artificial intelligence. PitcherNet uses broadcast camera feeds and combines them with low-resolution footage shot on a smartphone. Jerrin Bright, lead researcher on the project, said the AI technology tracks different metrics to analyze a pitcher's performance. 'Most specifically, we find 18 joint positions of the human using the Hawk-Eye tracking system, and this skeleton is then basically used to find metrics like the pitching velocity and the spin rate of the ball,' Bright said. The Hawk-Eye tracking system has 12 high-speed cameras, which capture images at 200 to 300 frames per second that are played at multiple angles on the baseball grounds. Story continues below advertisement The U of W-designed system extrapolates the pitcher's entire throwing motion to re-create a level of detail using elaborate and expensive technology installed in most stadiums that host MLB teams. Its goal is to fill gaps in the technology and provide data that is typically available to the team that owns the stadium where a game is played, as is the case with Hawk-Eye. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'They wanted to build a system that can basically mimic the sophisticated system like the Hawk-Eye technology itself, but the catch here would be that you wouldn't have any depth information because we are just going to use single monocular camera and have a coach or a scout be anywhere in the ground, and they'll be able to capture the data and do analysis of the players,' Bright said. The project began in 2022 when the Orioles organization approached Bright and John Zelek, a professor of systems design engineering at the U of W. Bright said the goal is not to replace humans, but to help elevate a pitcher's game. 'They can use different essential systems to find these metrics, but we are just trying to build this just from a broadcast feed that you can see in your television to try to make it more accessible and easier for the coaches or the scouts,' he said. The Orioles organization has been very satisfied with the project, according to Bright, resulting in a two-year contract extension with the professional ball club. Story continues below advertisement He said their contract is exclusive to Baltimore and the U of W researchers haven't collaborated with other MLB teams. Bright said the AI technology could be used in other areas of the sport in the future. He said the AI technology could be expanded to help coaches in amateur leagues and college programs and also help improve scouting.
National Post
07-05-2025
- Sport
- National Post
University of Waterloo, MLB team partner on pitcher biomechanics project
Article content Staying competitive in the American League East means staying on the cutting edge of technology. Article content Article content That's why the Baltimore Orioles have partnered with researchers at the University of Waterloo to develop artificial intelligence technology, called PitcherNet, that will help the MLB team track the biomechanics of pitchers at every level of the organization, from the collegiate ranks and through its minor-league system. Article content PitcherNet takes the main camera feeds fans are used to seeing — either from behind the pitcher or behind the batter — and combines it with video footage shot on a smartphone by a scout or team official. Using AI, PitcherNet then extrapolates the pitcher's entire throwing motion, recreating the level of detail that the 12-camera Hawk-Eye system is capable of producing. Article content 'What we do is we try to extract 2-D information, 2-D joint position information, and then extrapolate using 3-D avatars,' said Waterloo PhD student Jerrin Bright. 'The 3-D avatars are like blobs encompassing a human itself and we use those blobs to basically find the 3-D human pose, which can be represented with the shape of the person, so that's the idea behind it.' Article content Sig Mejdal, the Orioles' assistant general manager, said that in his experience it's a necessity to evolve, even in a sport as old as baseball. Article content 'It's completely mandatory,' said Mejdal, who worked for NASA and Lockheed Martin's satellite operations unit at Onizuka Air Force Station in Sunnyvale, Calif., before moving to the St. Louis Cardinals and then the Houston Astros. 'The success that I've been a part of in St Louis, Houston and Baltimore, so much of it has come from innovation and change. Article content 'We're the Baltimore Orioles, we're not a large-market team, and we're in the American League East. We have to do everything right, and it would be foolish not to explore every avenue of improvement.' Article content Article content As part of that need to stay ahead of the competition, Mejdal wanted to expand the Orioles' ability to track the biomechanics of their pitchers. Article content Currently, every MLB ballpark and over 60 minor-league stadiums are equipped with Hawk-Eye technology, a series of cameras strategically located throughout a venue for precise 3-D imaging. Primarily used by officials in tennis, soccer, and other sports for review calls, it's increasingly used in baseball to help track the throwing motion of pitchers. Article content This is important for two reasons. First, a successful pitcher is able to replicate the same throwing motion over and over again. Second, close analysis of a pitcher's biomechanics can help find likely causes of injuries. Article content But Hawk-Eye cameras are only accessible to the home team at MLB and triple-A ballparks. Any minor-league team at a lower level or a scout at a college or high school field doesn't have access to those analytics because the expensive infrastructure is almost always unavailable.
Toronto Sun
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Toronto Sun
University of Waterloo, MLB team partner on pitcher biomechanics project
Published May 06, 2025 • 3 minute read University of Waterloo researchers John Zelek, right, and Jerrin Bright pose for an undated handout photo in front of an onscreen example of the software they engineered to analyze baseball pitchers. To help train AI algorithms at the heart of the technology, researchers created three-dimensional avatars of pitchers so their movements could be viewed from numerous vantage points. Photo by HO / THE CANADIAN PRESS Staying competitive in the American League East means staying on the cutting edge of technology. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account That's why the Baltimore Orioles have partnered with researchers at the University of Waterloo to develop artificial intelligence technology, called PitcherNet, that will help the MLB team track the biomechanics of pitchers at every level of the organization, from the collegiate ranks and through its minor-league system. PitcherNet takes the main camera feeds fans are used to seeing — either from behind the pitcher or behind the batter — and combines it with video footage shot on a smartphone by a scout or team official. Using AI, PitcherNet then extrapolates the pitcher's entire throwing motion, recreating the level of detail that the 12-camera Hawk-Eye system is capable of producing. 'What we do is we try to extract 2-D information, 2-D joint position information, and then extrapolate using 3-D avatars,' said Waterloo PhD student Jerrin Bright. 'The 3-D avatars are like blobs encompassing a human itself and we use those blobs to basically find the 3-D human pose, which can be represented with the shape of the person, so that's the idea behind it.' Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Read More Sig Mejdal, the Orioles' assistant general manager, said that in his experience it's a necessity to evolve, even in a sport as old as baseball. 'It's completely mandatory,' said Mejdal, who worked for NASA and Lockheed Martin's satellite operations unit at Onizuka Air Force Station in Sunnyvale, Calif., before moving to the St. Louis Cardinals and then the Houston Astros. 'The success that I've been a part of in St Louis, Houston and Baltimore, so much of it has come from innovation and change. 'We're the Baltimore Orioles, we're not a large-market team, and we're in the American League East. We have to do everything right, and it would be foolish not to explore every avenue of improvement.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. As part of that need to stay ahead of the competition, Mejdal wanted to expand the Orioles' ability to track the biomechanics of their pitchers. Currently, every MLB ballpark and over 60 minor-league stadiums are equipped with Hawk-Eye technology, a series of cameras strategically located throughout a venue for precise 3-D imaging. Primarily used by officials in tennis, soccer, and other sports for review calls, it's increasingly used in baseball to help track the throwing motion of pitchers. This is important for two reasons. First, a successful pitcher is able to replicate the same throwing motion over and over again. Second, close analysis of a pitcher's biomechanics can help find likely causes of injuries. RECOMMENDED VIDEO But Hawk-Eye cameras are only accessible to the home team at MLB and triple-A ballparks. Any minor-league team at a lower level or a scout at a college or high school field doesn't have access to those analytics because the expensive infrastructure is almost always unavailable. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. That's where PitcherNet, a joint project between the Orioles, Bright and Waterloo professor John Zelek, comes in. 'The whole premise of the project was to replicate those capabilities from just using your smartphone by a scout sitting in the stands,' said Zelek, a systems design engineering professor at Waterloo and co-director of the university's Vision Image Processing lab. 'So rather than the scout reporting qualitatively, now you have quantitative data from the scout at a college-level game, or wherever.' Although similar products exist, the proprietary rights to PitcherNet will be owned by the Orioles and, once it's operational, they can explore using it in more ways. 'So much of this game is using your body to generate leverage, whether you're a pitcher to throw the ball or whether you're a hitter to swing the bat,' Hejdal said in a video call from his office at Oriole Park in Camden Yards. 'We had to start somewhere, and the pitching seemed the obvious starting point.' Columnists Toronto & GTA Toronto Blue Jays Columnists Toronto & GTA
Edmonton Journal
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Edmonton Journal
University of Waterloo, MLB team partner on pitcher biomechanics project
Article content PitcherNet takes the main camera feeds fans are used to seeing — either from behind the pitcher or behind the batter — and combines it with video footage shot on a smartphone by a scout or team official. Using AI, PitcherNet then extrapolates the pitcher's entire throwing motion, recreating the level of detail that the 12-camera Hawk-Eye system is capable of producing. 'What we do is we try to extract 2-D information, 2-D joint position information, and then extrapolate using 3-D avatars,' said Waterloo PhD student Jerrin Bright. 'The 3-D avatars are like blobs encompassing a human itself and we use those blobs to basically find the 3-D human pose, which can be represented with the shape of the person, so that's the idea behind it.' Sig Mejdal, the Orioles' assistant general manager, said that in his experience it's a necessity to evolve, even in a sport as old as baseball.
Winnipeg Free Press
06-05-2025
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
University of Waterloo, Orioles partner on AI project to track pitcher biomechanics
Staying competitive in the American League East means staying on the cutting edge of technology. That's why the Baltimore Orioles have partnered with researchers at the University of Waterloo to develop artificial intelligence technology, called PitcherNet, that will help the Major League Baseball team track the biomechanics of pitchers at every level of the organization, from the collegiate ranks and through its minor-league system. PitcherNet takes the main camera feeds fans are used to seeing — either from behind the pitcher or behind the batter — and combines it with video footage shot on a smartphone by a scout or team official. Using AI, PitcherNet then extrapolates the pitcher's entire throwing motion, recreating the level of detail that the 12-camera Hawk-Eye system is capable of producing. University of Waterloo researchers John Zelek, right, and Jerrin Bright pose for an undated handout photo in front of an onscreen example of the software they engineered to analyze baseball pitchers. To help train AI algorithms at the heart of the technology, researchers created three-dimensional avatars of pitchers so their movements could be viewed from numerous vantage points. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-University of Waterloo, *MANDATORY CREDIT* 'What we do is we try to extract 2D information, 2D joint position information, and then extrapolate using 3D avatars,' said Waterloo PhD student Jerrin Bright. 'The 3D avatars are like blobs encompassing a human itself and we use those blobs to basically find the 3D human pose, which can be represented with the shape of the person, so that's the idea behind it.' Sig Mejdal, the Orioles assistant general manager, said that in his experience it's a necessity to evolve, even in a sport as old as baseball. 'It's mandatory. It's completely mandatory,' said Mejdal, who worked for NASA and Lockheed Martin's satellite operations unit at Onizuka Air Force Station in Sunnyvale, Calif., before moving to the St. Louis Cardinals and then the Houston Astros. 'The success that I've been a part of in St Louis, Houston and Baltimore, so much of it has come from innovation and change. 'We're the Baltimore Orioles, we're not a large market team, and we're in the American League East. We have to do everything right, and it would be foolish not to explore every avenue of improvement.' As part of that need to stay ahead of the competition, Mejdal wanted to expand the Orioles' ability to track the biomechanics of their pitchers. Currently, every MLB ballpark and over 60 minor-league stadiums are equipped with Hawk-Eye technology, a series of cameras strategically located throughout a venue for precise 3D imaging. Primarily used by officials in tennis, soccer, and other sports for review calls, it's increasingly used in baseball to help track the throwing motion of pitchers. This is important for two reasons. First, a successful pitcher is able to replicate the same throwing motion over and over again. Second, close analysis of a pitcher's biomechanics can help find likely causes of injuries. But Hawk-Eye cameras are only accessible to the home team at MLB and triple-A level ballparks. Any minor-league team at a lower level or a scout at a college or high school field doesn't have access to those analytics because the expensive infrastructure is almost always unavailable. Winnipeg Free Press | Newsletter Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. Sign up for The Warm-Up That's where PitcherNet, a joint project between the Orioles and Bright and Waterloo professor John Zelek, comes in. 'The whole premise of the project was to replicate those capabilities from just using your smartphone by a scout sitting in the stands,' said Zelek a systems design engineering professor at Waterloo and co-director of the university's Vision Image Processing lab. 'So rather than the scout reporting qualitatively, now you have quantitative data from the scout at a college-level game, or wherever.' Although similar products exist, the proprietary rights to PitcherNet will be owned by the Orioles and, once it's operational, they can explore using it in more ways. 'So much of this game is using your body to generate leverage, whether you're a pitcher to throw the ball or whether you're a hitter to swing the bat,' Hejdal said in a video call from his office at Oriole Park in Camden Yards. 'We had to start somewhere, and the pitching seemed the obvious starting point.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 6, 2025.
