CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The Charlotte 49ers baseball team is proud to announce a partnership with SportsMEDIA Technology (SMT) to bring SMT's 6th Tool Tracking to Hayes Stadium.
 
The 6th Tool is a fully optical computer vision system that tracks both the players on the field and the ball. The system compiles a total digital record of player positions, ball trajectories, timing of events, and more. Data is captured using four tracking cameras placed around the ballpark to encompass the entire field of play and is then relayed to a central computer for analysis.
 
"Our push as a program to utilize the most modern technologies and resources available for our players to develop continues, said head coach Robert Woodard. "I am both proud and grateful to be able to announce the addition of the SMT 6th Tool system here in the Charlotte Baseball program. This is a true game-changer for our player development and future player scouting. The addition of this technology puts our program on a very short list of Division I programs with the capacity to measure both the movement of the baseball (with our Trackman V3 stadium unit) and now all player movement on our field here at Robert and Mariam Hayes Stadium. A step such as this could not be possible without a significant commitment by our administration, donors, and supporters. We are very excited to put this technology to use."
 
Charlotte is now one of seven Division I programs in the country to utilize the 6th Tool, joining Arizona State, Arkansas, LSU, North Carolina, Pacific, and Utah. Installation for the 6th Tool Tracking System at the Hayes is slated to take place this summer to be ready ahead of the 2023-24 school year.
 
In addition to CLT's staff and players having access to the data, all metrics will also be available to all 30 Major League Baseball organizations.
 
"This [partnership] is pivotal because we will now be able to have a more complete picture of the wide range of skills that we value as a coaching staff and we believe this will translate to winning even more college baseball games," continued Woodard. "MLB teams having access to the data produced on our field is also significant because it will be virtually impossible for our players, who possess Major-League skill sets, to go unnoticed in future MLB Drafts. Amidst our goals to win championships here at Charlotte, our coaching staff also aspires to recruit and develop future Major League players."
 
SMT is a pioneer in sports technology, providing services and enhancements to the broadcasts of top major sporting events for the last 30 years. SMT creates graphic overlays for the Super Bowl and other NFL events, including the new Nickelodeon broadcasts of select NFL playoff games in recent years. SMT's work spans 60 sports from baseball and football to marathons and auto racing, pioneering the use of the Ghost Car technology in NASCAR.
 
Some of the metrics that Charlotte's coaching staff, players, and MLB organizations will have access to include:
 

• Baserunner secondary lead
• Baserunner top speed
• Baserunner first step
• Baserunner time from base to base
• Batted ball distance
• Batted ball hang time
• Batter time to first base
• Batter top speed
• Catch location
• Distance to landing location
• Exit velocity
• Fielder move distance
• Fielder reaction time
• Fielder throw speed
• Fielder throw distance
• Fielder transfer time
• Fielder average speed
• Fielder throw angle
• Fielder top speed
• Landing location
• Launch angle
• Max ball height
• Pop time
• Spray angle