Jake Brentz gets $1.9M deal with Royals, recovering from surgery MLB umpires will have a new view this season — on Zoom

SURPRISE, Arizona – Lefty Jake Brentz and the Kansas City Royals signed a two-year, $1.9 million contract that will keep him with the team while he recovers from Tommy John surgery.

As part of the agreement, the 28-year-old will receive a salary of $850,000 this year and $1.05 million next year. He can earn an additional $300,000 per year in bonuses for completed games: $50,000 for every 25 and every additional 5-50 games.

Brentz could also earn $100,000 in roster bonuses in 2024 alone: ​​$50,000 each for 90 and 120 days on an active major league roster.

He was 5–2 with a 3.66 ERA and two saves in 72 assist games as a rookie in 2021, hitting 76 of 64 innings. Brentz appeared in eight games in April, going 0-3 with a 23.63 ERA, but was listed as injured on April 30 with a flexor tendon strain in his left elbow.

Brentz made two appearances in minor league injury rehabilitation at the Northwest Arkansas Double-A Tournament on June 19 and 22, and on July 21, the Royals announced that he had undergone reconstructive elbow surgery to repair his ulnar collateral ligament.

Kansas City nominated him for appointment on November 15, and Brentz was elected a free agent three days later.

NEW YORK. Judges will have a new look this season: in Zoom.

Major League Baseball has struck a deal with Zoom Video Communications Inc. to allow on-field umpires to oversee the playback operations center scoring contested calls.

MLB first adopted instant replay in September 2008 for home boundary calls and expanded it to a wide variety of solutions in the 2014 season. Last season there were 1,434 video reviews, including 1,261 team challenges, 50.2% of which resulted in call cancellations.

So far, the field crew chief has listened to the replay judge in New York with audio only, joined by the judge who made the initial call if he was not the crew chief. In 2013 pumps went to the edge of the field to listen on headphones, then in 2014-2021. the attendant brought them headphones to the field. Last year, umps switched to a wireless waistpack and MLB allowed replays and decisions to be announced for the first time on ballpark PA systems.

12.9-inch iPad Pro tablets will be delivered this year by a technician. They will be connected to the Zoom Contact Center and Replay Operations Center to see which replays are being viewed. The replay referee still makes the final decision.

“You’ll be able to see who’s sitting in the chair, who might be with that person, what plays they’re watching, and you’ll be able to combine visual interaction with the traditional audio interaction they’re discussing on the pitch. MLB director of operations and strategy Chris Marinak said.

A limited number of broadcasts will have access to Zoom videos viewed by umps: Apple TV+ and MLB Network Showcase. Marinak said the new technology could become available for post-season TV broadcasts, and approximate video boards would have access to Zoom TV viewings that would be branded with the company.

Zoom will also be used by MLB on the first day of the Seattle Amateur Draft on July 9th. While it’s too early to determine if Zoom can be used in robot referees, an automated kicking system is being tested this season in Triple-A. .

“This whole ecosystem is open to innovation and experimentation,” Marinak said. “We will definitely try and see what will take root. As for ABS, I think it’s too early to say that we’ve settled on one particular process and technology for the long term. I think we’re still experimenting a lot and being open to everything, trying things at the minor league level.”

Zoom, launched in 2011, has been increasingly used by MLB teams during the pandemic. For most of 2021 and 22, Zoom has replaced in-person media accessibility for players and managers.

“They’ve been customers for years, using our meetings, our rooms, our phone technology, and then deeper integration, as we know, the way people used video has really changed over the past few years,” said Janine Pelosi. zoom. marketing director. “I think he will add this technology where it will not interfere with the game. I think it’s critical. And it will bring the fans an experience.”