MLB Approves Use of Device to Measure Biometrics of Players
By Nick Fustor
In an effort to advance statistical analysis of players’ health, Major League Baseball approved the use of a continuous biometric monitor that can be worn by players while in games.
Major League Baseball has become the first major professional sports league to approve the use of an in-game biometrics device that can be worn by players, per Darren Rovell of ESPN.com. Biometrics is defined as the application of statistical analysis to biological data.
The device – which measure sleep, strain and recovery – is designed to be worn throughout the day and night, and can be worn on various parts of the body. One hundred megabytes of data is gathered per day, and is then used to determine a player’s physical state heading into a game.
Players are not required to wear the monitors, and it’s their choice if they want to or not.
Manufactured by a company called WHOOP, the device has been under scrutiny over privacy concerns. Rovell noted some of the concerns raised by those questioning the device:
"“How much of the player data can a team use? If there is something a player doesn’t want the team to see, what can he or she do after agreeing to wear the device? The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), which protects patients from having their medical information shared, does not currently apply to biometric data.”"
An MLB spokesman confirmed the deal to Rovell, but would not comment further. WHOOP founder and CEO Will Ahmed said to Rovell, “This is Moneyball 2.0.”
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During a presentation by WHOOP at the Winter Meetings, the company presented its findings on what they described to be the most comprehensive biometric data study ever conducted by a pro sports league to its athletes. The results found that there is a direct correlation between recovery and injury and hitting and pitching performance.
Rovell noted that the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), which protects patients from sharing their medical information, does not currently apply to biometric data. Sources told Rovell that the agreement between MLB and the vendor does not allow the vendor to access data gathered by teams and MLB. Additionally, commercial use of player data requires consent of both the player and the team.
At least for now, the Los Angeles Dodgers won’t be sharing how many hours superhuman Clayton Kershaw sleeps at night.
Last year, Matthew Dellavedova, then of the Cleveland Cavaliers, was fined by the NBA for wearing a WHOOP device on his wrist. Dellavedova wore the device for most of March before the NBA was made aware and informed the Cavs that Dellavedova would no longer be able to wear the device.
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The WHOOP device costs $1,200 per athlete per year and includes a dashboard to the resulting analytics. At this time, it’s unclear when and if other leagues will join MLB in allowing wearable technology.