MLB Bans AI-Enabled Dugout iPad Use Ahead of Second Half

Beginning the second half of the 2026 season, Major League Baseball prohibited the use of a custom tab on league-issued iPads that allowed teams to run artificial-intelligence tools for in-game strategy. The restriction took effect on the first game after the All-Star break, following a memo dated June 11 that was sent to general managers, assistant GMs, and video coordinators. The league’s review found all clubs compliant with existing technology rules, and no penalties were imposed.

Fox News (website)

MLB introduced a pilot program permitting iPad use in dugouts with limited functions late in the 2015 season and expanded the policy in 2016 through a partnership with Apple. Video feeds were removed during the 2020 COVID-affected season after the Houston Astros sign-stealing scandal, then reinstated in 2021. Over the subsequent years, teams increasingly installed custom applications on a third iPad tab, using live data to generate substitution recommendations, pitch-calling suggestions, and other strategic advice.

ESPN

MLB executive vice president of baseball operations Morgan Sword explained that the custom tab “had expanded the use of the dugout iPads beyond their originally intended purpose” and that the new prohibition provides clubs “appropriate lead-time to make any necessary adjustments.” The league emphasized that the ban is intended to preserve human decision-making and to prevent a “cheating before there’s cheating” scenario. A competition-committee review confirmed that no team violated the existing sign-stealing or electronic-device regulations.

ESPN

Front-office personnel tasked with innovation expressed frustration, noting that the restriction “has been met with frustration by some front-office members.” An unnamed front-office official warned that “Gotta stop the cheating before there’s cheating now,” while a high-ranking research-and-development executive described the move as having “caused quite the stir.” Analysts also pointed out that roughly one-third of teams were already using the iPads for AI-driven recommendations, raising concerns about lost analytical advantages.

Fox News (website)

• “beyond their originally intended purpose to include recommendations regarding substitutions, pitch calling, and other in-game decisions traditionally made by players and coaches.” — Morgan Sword, MLB executive vice president of baseball operations

Bleacher Report

• “Instituting this prohibition beginning with the second half of the season is intended to provide clubs that have relied on the custom tab with appropriate lead-time to make any necessary adjustments,” — Morgan Sword, MLB executive vice president of baseball operations

ESPN

• “Gotta stop the cheating before there's cheating now,” — Unnamed front-office official (The Athletic)

Engadget

• “It's caused quite the stir,” — High-ranking official, MLB team research and development department (The Athletic)

Bleacher Report