Inside ESPN’s Advanced Tech for the 2024 Men’s College World Series: Drones, TrackMan Radar, and More

The ESPN College Baseball team, managed by Vice President of Production Phil Orlins and lead producer Scott Gustafson, continues to innovate with its in-game coverage, implementing new technology every year to help #GrowtheGame.

This weekend, ESPN delivers unique storytelling again as the 2024 Men’s College World Series (MCWS) crowns its champion in Omaha, Nebraska.

“Because of the long run of the MCWS and being in the same stadium over the course of 10-plus days, this is a great event for our team to experiment and try new technology,” Orlins noted. “As viewership continues to grow each year, so does the scope of our production. With the help of the NCAA and the umpires themselves, we’ve been able to implement some fun and unique tech that brings viewers closer to the game than ever before.”

This year, the technology highlights include:

• Drones – The ESPN drone – operated by pilot Mike Shea – has been flown from various locations throughout Omaha, including during pitching changes by escorting the relief pitcher from the bullpen to the mound and giving viewers a dramatic aerial shot of tense moments.
• TrackMan Radar – ESPN uses TrackMan radar to capture contemporary baseball data, including precise pitch speeds, spin and movement, home run distance, exit velocity, and launch angle.
• UmpCam & MindFly BodyCams – For the first time, cameras have been simultaneously placed on the home plate and first and second base umpires throughout the MCWS. Via a camera affixed to the home plate umpire’s mask, viewers can see the ump’s view on close ball or strike calls. The UmpCam alternate viewing option will be available on ESPNU during the Finals. New to baseball, the MindFly BodyCams, placed on the chests of the umpires, give viewers intimate and decisive shots of close plays at both first and second base.
• Ultra Slo-Mo Cams – Two Nucleus 4k pan and scan Super Slo-Mo cams, provided by Fletcher Sports, are being utilized in Omaha. Recording at 240 frames per second, one is located in the dugout and shoots down the third-base line and one is placed on top of the home plate screen and shoots down the first-base line, providing relativity shots of the runners and the ball.

Check out the video below for a sampling of the tech featured in ESPN’s “Omaha toolbox.”

In Game 1 of a best-of-three series starting Saturday night, SEC rivals No. 1 seed Tennessee and No. 3 Texas A&M duel at Charles Schwab Field (7:30 ET, ESPN, ESPN+). Game 2 will be Sunday, 2 p.m. on ABC. If Game 3 is necessary, it will be played Monday at 7 p.m. on ESPN. Visit ESPN.com for more coverage.

Read more on ESPN’s MCWS production plan from Sports Video Group

Amanda Brooks produced the video above