Can HeyBLU be used during a baseball game?

Coaches and leagues use HeyBLU at scrimmages and games for objective ball-strike feedback and pitch location logging. The human umpire still runs the game — runners, balks, checked swings, and every other call. Leagues interested in formal in-game evaluation can contact HeyBLU at info@heyblu.ai.

Who uses HeyBLU behind the plate?

Teen umpires (13-14 and up), parent and volunteer umps, and coaches pressed into umpiring another team's game during the nationwide umpire shortage. HeyBLU gives plate-anchored 3D feedback so they can compare their call to objective geometry in real time.

Games, scrimmages & who’s actually calling balls and strikes

The umpire shortage is real. Leagues lean on teen umpires (13, 14, and up) who grew up on phones and will happily use tech. They lean on parents and volunteers who said yes once and keep getting asked back. Many leagues require their coaches to umpire as their solution to the umpire shortage.

Can HeyBLU be used in youth games?

HeyBLU requires a specific pre-game scan that may need to be repeated every inning or so. Leagues may want to consider starting with HeyBLU in bullpens, practices, and for umpire zone training. Encourage the UIC and coaches to download the app and try it out — see our pricing page and Smart Field guide. If all stakeholders have had a chance to use it, they can proceed just as MLB did with testing in lower leagues or more casual games like scrimmages, or leagues like Fall Ball. Decisions like who does the scan, where the phone is placed and how it is protected, what size zones to use, and so forth will need to be part of the decision-making process.

What HeyBLU does at the plate

Live Strike/Ball audio — instant feedback for everyone on the field.
Pitch crossing location — zone dot and session data capture where the ball crossed the plate for review and analysis.
3D geometry locked to home plate — a fixed strike zone anchored to the real dish in field space, not a flat overlay on video.

Built with umpires in mind

HeyBLU was built as umpire armor. During training, umpires can learn the zone by comparing their calls to the app’s. If or when it gets approved for game use, it is suggested that only the umpire hears the call with Bluetooth earbuds. They make the final call, but get help on close pitches and protection when they can point to the app for anyone not happy with a call.

What the plate umpire still owns

Calling balls and strikes is only part of the job. Checked swings, catcher’s interference, balks, time, runners, equipment, and game flow stay with the human. HeyBLU goes deep on where the baseball crossed the strike zone in 3D — call the pitch, hear HeyBLU, compare, adjust.

For a 15-year-old working their fifth game of the weekend, that loop builds the zone faster than guessing alone.

Leagues & organizations

If your league wants to pilot HeyBLU as an in-game assist — scrimmage, fall ball, or structured evaluation — we want to hear from you. Reach info@heyblu.ai and we’ll work through mount, crew workflow, and what “assist” means for your level of play.

Built for youth fields today

Optimized for outdoor daylight; indoor and night sessions are active development areas.
Mount within 20 feet of home plate in foul territory — sweet spot 10–15 ft.
Validated heavily on sub-70 MPH youth and travel-ball pitching.

Help

One iPhone. Real 3D. Live calls.