MINNEAPOLIS — The Dodgers are dipping their toes in baseball’s new technology to combat sign-stealing.

PitchCom – a device worn by the pitcher and catcher (and select infielders) that allows the catcher to call pitches without using hand signals – was approved for use during the 2022 season. Approximately half of the 30 MLB teams are believed to be using the PitchCom technology to some extent.

The Dodgers experimented with it during bullpen sessions in spring training and so far have only used it in games to change signs between pitches, not to call the individual pitches.

“Instead of going to the cards all the time, our guys are switching up signs that way,” Dodgers GM Brandon Gomes said. “You can program different things in there. That’s kind of the in-between right now as guys continue to test it out and see how they want to use it.

“I know Will (Smith) has used it some and some of the pitchers like it. It’s just about a comfort level-type thing. I think the slow drip is a good way to do it. And as the comfort level and trust with the technology increases, I think you’ll probably see an increased implementation of it.”

Gomes acknowledged that “there’s still some paranoia of it being hacked” but he expects that will fade away as players become more familiar with how it works.

Austin Barnes tried it out during those spring bullpen sessions and found the receiver in his helmet would shift around as he moved, creating an annoyance. But he used it to change signs during his start on Saturday in Colorado and remains on the fence about its usefulness.

“It’s weird,” he said. “Pitchers are human beings and they get used to doing things one way. Their whole life they’ve been (coming to a set position), looking down for a sign and go. So it messes with their rhythm a little bit.”

The idea, however, is to speed up the pace of play by taking away concerns about sign stealing.

“I feel like it’s done,” Barnes said of the wave of sign-stealing that peaked with the Houston Astros’ behavior in 2017. “If you’re not doing enough now and you get got, that’s on you.”

DH DUTY

Four games into the season, the designated hitter role has been filled by Justin Turner, Edwin Rios and Max Muncy with Turner the first to log a second DH start on Tuesday.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said “for the foreseeable future” he plans to rotate those three through the DH spot with no one likely to spend more than a game at a time there. Smith is also likely to get some DH starts as a way to keep his bat in the lineup while giving him a day off from behind the plate.

Even if Turner gets the most starts in the DH spot, Roberts said he doesn’t see anyone as primarily a DH.

“I just think it’s kind of threading the needle and not trying to tag him as a DH and give guys the opportunity to go out and play defense because I think they can all do that,” Roberts said. “That’s more Justin and Max. Then I’m going to do everything I can to get Edwin at-bats whenever feasible.”

VIN HONOR

Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully has been retired for almost six years now. But he’s still collecting awards.

Scully was named the second winner of Baseball Digest’s Lifetime Achievement Award on Tuesday. Willie Mays was given the inaugural honor in 2021. The award recognizes an individual “who has made significant contributions to the national game” and is chosen from a group of nominees by a 16-member panel.

“I think, first of all, any award that’s already been won by Willie Mays, who certainly was one of my favorite players and one for whom I had great respect, is an honor,” Scully said in a press release announcing the award. “It’s an honor to even have my name linked with his in some way. I was honored, delighted and surprised that I turned out to be the second winner of Baseball Digest’s Lifetime Achievement Award. I’m proud of it and humble at the same time.”

TWIN CITIES

Tuesday was a big night for Minnesota sports. While the Dodgers were playing the Twins at Target Field, the Clippers and Timberwolves were playing an NBA play-in game next door at Target Center and the playoff-bound Minnesota Wild was hosting the Edmonton Oilers across the river in St. Paul.

On a cold and rainy night, the Twins drew the smallest crowd of the three games (16,732).

UP NEXT

Dodgers (LHP Clayton Kershaw, 10-8, 3.55 ERA in 2021) at Twins (RHP Chris Paddack, 7-7, 5.07 ERA in 2021), Wednesday, 10:10 a.m., SNLA, 570 AM