How AI is transforming the game of baseball

The intersection of artificial intelligence and Major League Baseball is creating new competitive advantages, with the Texas Rangers leveraging data analytics to enhance their game strategy and operations.

Data-driven success story: The Texas Rangers’ 2023 World Series victory showcases how professional baseball teams are harnessing AI and big data to gain competitive advantages.

• Data engineer Oliver Dykstra has been instrumental in transforming collected information into actionable insights since joining the Rangers in October 2022
• The team employs hundreds of predictive models that analyze various aspects of the game
• Accurate predictions helped forecast the Rangers’ successful 2023 season performance

AI-powered predictions and player insights: Advanced analytics are revolutionizing how teams approach game strategy and player matchups.

• Predictive modeling enables rapid simulation of various game scenarios and player matchups
• The system analyzes batter tendencies to provide pitchers with strategic insights
• Teams must balance data-driven recommendations with player autonomy and experience

Technology partnerships and infrastructure: The Rangers utilize a sophisticated data processing ecosystem to manage and analyze information from multiple sources.

• The team employs Apache Airflow and Astronomer’s platform for data orchestration and observability
• The system processes information from various sources, including professional games worldwide
• External partnerships help manage the complex infrastructure required for data processing

Generative AI applications: The Rangers are exploring innovative uses of language models to streamline operations.

• Large Language Models (LLMs) help translate and summarize scout reports
• The team is investigating retrieval-augmented generation for rule book access and stadium information
• Partnerships with Databricks and Amazon support exploration of additional AI models

Environmental analysis and real-time feedback: The team incorporates weather data and stadium conditions into their analytical models.

• Weather dynamics are monitored every five minutes across different fields
• The system provides immediate feedback to players about how environmental conditions affect their performance
• Globe Life Field’s retractable roof creates unique conditions that require specific analysis

Cultural integration: Data democratization and leadership buy-in have been crucial to the Rangers’ successful implementation of AI technologies.

• Manager Bruce Bochy effectively combines data insights with traditional baseball knowledge
• Embedded data analysts facilitate communication between the analytics team and players
• The team operates within MLB’s strict regulations regarding in-game data usage

Future implications: As AI technology continues to evolve, baseball teams that successfully balance traditional baseball knowledge with data-driven insights will likely maintain competitive advantages, while staying within the bounds of MLB regulations and maintaining the human element of the sport.