AriBall is the collaborative effort of over half of all MLB teams with Ari Kaplan (Caltech Alumni of the
Decade and MLB consultant for over two decades) and Fred Claire (World Series-winning general
manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers and member of the club’s front office for 30 years.)

Media is welcome to use this information. We would ask for a reference and, if possible, a link to AriBall.com.

###

When was the last time you stood in the batter’s box? 2 years ago in high school? 40 years ago in little league? For many, the memory has faded and baseball has transitioned to an easier game. You watch television and ask how a particular hitter missed a pitch. How could he have swung at that pitch, when it bounced? Well, truth is, baseball is extremely challenging. When you turn on the television to watch your team, realize that each of those players has dedicated their lives to get to that point. They’ve had endless lessons with coaches and trainers. They’ve spent thousands of hours hitting off of a tee or front toss. They’ve taken a million ground balls. What have we, the viewer done? Most likely, not much. What if you could step in the box tomorrow against Aroldis Chapman? Might your appreciation change?

Technology has never been as advanced as it is now. The internet combined with growth of the hardware and software industries gives us an opportunity to do things we couldn’t have imagined. Now, through virtual reality, we can fly a fighter jet, perform a brain surgery, go on a ground mission in Afghanistan, and now; step in the box against baseball’s best. 19 year MLB veteran Jason Giambi, former Colorado Rockies GM Dan O’Dowd and Brendan Reilly, founder of EON Sports VR, have teamed up to create that opportunity. This team has incorporated the technology to present the true baseball experience. They provide a product that ranges from the Little League to the Major League experience. They’ve developed “Project OPS” which presents the exact velocity, spin rate, horizontal movement, and vertical movements observed in the batter’s box.

Photos from eonsportsvr.com

Giambi had a career OBP of .399 and led the league in ’00, ’01, and ‘05. Additionally, he walked over 100 times for seven seasons and led the American League four separate times. Vision and pitch selection were the foundation of the success that allowed him to play until the age of 43. In retirement, Giambi has embraced the next step by teaching the importance of pitch selection and recognition. He provides the little leaguer, high school athlete, college athlete, minor leaguer and major leaguer the ability to experience endless pitch recognition experiences. Giambi stated that, "You actually feel like you're facing the pitcher. He's going through his windup; he's going through his pitches. You can even pick up seams on the ball".

Ted Williams use to say, “Rule number one is to get a good pitch to hit”. Greg Maddux said, “Make balls look like strikes and strikes look like balls”. Those are two of the most simplistic philosophies imaginable but to actually play within them is very difficult. Virtual Reality allows hitters from all ages take at bats at any time of day. If it’s raining outside, one can substitute mindless video games with visual repetitions and training his eyes to know the strike zone and recognize specific pitches. In the north east with winter snow on the ground, the springtime transition to game speed will be seamless.

A minor league player is said to need 2,000 at bats, or 4-5 seasons, before he is truly defined as a hitter. Imagine if their maturity in the batter’s box was cut in half? What if that player who was on an injury rehab assignment for 5-6 games, was able to cut that down by a game or two? In baseball, one game can determine going to the playoffs or not.

Rick Osentoski-USA Today Sports

Pre-game batting practice has been debated for years as to actually providing value. Some players want it and others believe it’s just a show for the fans. The true training comes in the cage and during video work, preparing for game situations. Virtual Reality, the ability to take game repetitions without the wear and tear on your body, is invaluable. If surgeons, pilots, and the military use it to enhance their hand eye coordination and decision making process, then why not athletes? According to infinityleap.com, “Research suggests that we remember 20% of what we hear, 30% of what we see, and up to 90% of what we do or simulate”. With all the money spent in sports; this appears to have the greatest investment return.

Data from AriBall.com

How do they do it? With data and analytics as advanced as they are today, Eon Sports has the capabilities to recreate the exact same pitch. From the eye level of the hitter in the box to the spin rate of the pitchers fastball, the scenario is exactly the same. Pitchers release points, velocity, X and Y axis breaks, timing, and location are all updated for the VR user to have the total experience. "We want every kid to have the opportunity to get better," Giambi said. "This is accessible for every child." The VR capabilities range from a cube-shaped monitor where a hitter can stand in, to a head set that contains your smart phone. Through an app, every player has access to Project OPS where skill levels can be adjusted.

For the first 100 years of baseball it was a physical man’s game. Thanks to Bill James and the many statisticians that followed, baseball shifted to data and analysis while creating an edge outside the box. Baseball’s next advantage is virtual reality. It is inevitable and Eon Sports has found a way to marry the data collection with the physical repetitions creating the ultimate hitter.

NOTE: All statistics accurate as of 11/19/15

By Simon Ferrer
AriBall.com

Follow @AriBall