MLB Increases Number of Camera Angles for Video Reviews Ahead of 2020 Season

More cameras are coming to ballparks around the country this season as Major League Baseball continues to refine its video review process.  

The league announced the changes Monday, per Ronald Blum of the Associated Press, with the number of isolated camera angles doubling from 12 to 24. 

Additionally, MLB has cut the amount of time field managers have to challenge a call from 30 seconds to 20 seconds. 

All cameras will stream directly to MLB's new replay operations center in Manhattan as well as ballpark video rooms. 

Individual teams have already seen their access to video rooms reduced in the wake of technology-aided sign-stealing by the Houston Astros and Boston Red Sox. Tom Verducci of Sports Illustrated reported in mid-February MLB banned all non-broadcast cameras from foul pole to foul pole and restricted in-house video feeds. 

Teams who violate the new protocols risk fines, losing draft picks and cuts to their international spending budget. 

Along with the new cameras, MLB is transitioning its Statcast system from TrackMan to Hawk-Eye, giving the league better data analysis. Five pitch-tracking cameras will be used behind home plate with seven cameras tracking players across the field up to 100 frames per second. 

"We would argue that it's more accurate than what you've seen in the past," MLB executive vice president of strategy, technology and innovation Chris Marinak said per the AP. "[It] mirrors historical data at closely as possible."

Statcast has been implemented in each MLB stadium since 2015 and compiles advanced analytics such as launch angle, projected home run distance, exit velocity, spin rate and arm strength.