Excellence at Every Away Game: How Data Drives the Arizona Diamondbacks
From bats and gloves to wireless receivers and performance tech, see how MLB teams move 15,000 pounds of gear and stay game-ready on the road.
With 81 away games across 14 states—more than 130 days on the road each year—it’s impressive how the Arizona Diamondbacks always show up on time, fully equipped, and game-ready. No missing gloves, bats, or baseball caps. But beyond the basics, they’ve also got a bit of high tech with them, too: iPads loaded with video data, wireless headsets for coaches, portable ice machines, and more.
Getting a team of players, staff, and gear from city to city isn’t just about hopping on a charter flight. It’s a carefully choreographed operation that depends on precise timing, reliable tech, and total coordination. Every piece of gear, whether it's a jersey or a headset, has to be there. And it has to be charged, working, and ready exactly when and where it's needed. That means teams have to count on technology being ready to go the moment they arrive.
What are teams bringing to their game days?
PitchCom Systems: These wireless communication devices are how catchers and pitchers now call pitches. Long gone are the days of visible hand signals for opponents to steal; today, catchers and pitchers communicate via wireless communication devices. The catcher presses buttons on a wristband-like controller that sends encrypted signals to the pitcher’s earpiece. Built on secure radio frequencies with built-in encryption, these devices ensure pitcher Zac Gallen and catcher Gabriel Moreno keep the innings short (and the Dodgers’ scores low).
MLB-Approved iPads: Each team carries with them nearly two-dozen iPads equipped with custom scouting reports, game plans, and video breakdowns. Built with technology designed to make them lightweight, long-lasting, and responsive, these iPads give players and coaches alike the opportunity to review past at-bats, pitcher tendencies, heat maps, and more.
Wearable Biometrics: While there are restrictions on wearable technology use during gameplay, MLB teams consider them a must for performance improvement and post-game recovery. These innovative tools include devices like smart sleeves pitchers wear to measure arm stress, heart rate, and more, as well as compression boots and sleeves to aid recovery during and after travel. Many of these devices are packed with tiny sensors to deliver real-time data players can use to fine-tune their performance.
Memorable away game moments
Technology plays a huge role in making unforgettable moments happen on the road. Take Paul Goldschmidt’s game-winning home run at Dodger Stadium in 2017, a clutch shot late in the game that helped the Diamondbacks secure a crucial division win. Or A.J. Pollock’s spectacular diving catch at Coors Field in 2016, which robbed the Rockies of an extra base hit. His quick reaction, honed by training, technology, and sheer talent, made it all possible.
Behind the scenes, technology supports the preparation that leads to these moments. From analyzing swing mechanics to monitoring recovery and planning individualized workouts, players rely on data and tools to train smarter, stay healthy, and compete at the highest level.
How are teams getting all this there?
Each and every away game during their regular season demands nearly 15,000 pounds of equipment. Managing that load isn’t just about transportation: it’s about execution. At the core of every successfully executed move are three essentials: visibility, efficiency, and agility. Whether it’s last-minute travel changes, urgent equipment needs, or other unexpected challenges, the team responsible for travel and clubhouse operations must always know exactly what’s moving, where it’s headed, and how best to get it there. And with an audience at every game, there’s no room for error.
Let’s break down what exactly they have to get right: 81 away games that see all 26 players and their 15,000 pounds of equipment zig-zag across some 40,000 miles of land. Equipment ranges from bats, gloves, and away game uniforms to water pallets, medical gear, promotional materials, and more. On top of dealing with the sheer scale of operations, a job well done depends on a variety of other strict conditions, including large semi trucks to protect gear during transit.
The trucks carrying team gear aren’t your average semis. They’re climate-controlled rigs with insulated trailers that help regulate temperature and humidity from ballpark to ballpark. High-R-value walls, onboard HVAC, and dehumidifiers keep everything from gloves to video equipment protected. Real-time sensors feed back data on interior conditions so adjustments can be made mid-route if needed. It’s the kind of behind-the-scenes tech that keeps game-day gear ready, no matter the weather or mileage.
This level of precision isn’t luck: it’s built.
But to build this kind of consistent, high-performance precision requires data, and lots of it. Knowing every part, where it is, who’s responsible for it, and what it takes to deliver it on time and to the right place demands more than a checklist. It requires data-driven visibility that elevates transportation from routine to remarkable—day after day, week after week, season after season.
Just like the MLB teams, technology creators need to know where the parts they need are and how to avoid any product development delays if there are issues. That’s why Avnet helps companies get the data they need to keep critical systems running. From part-level traceability to supply chain visibility, Avnet delivers powerful insights powered by Z2Data’s database of over 1 billion components to help teams use the technology they rely on to perform their best. Whether it’s radio systems, biometric trackers, recovery equipment, or even the vehicles that move cargo from game to game, Avnet gives teams the confidence that their technology will work when it matters most.