TrackMan Baseball Installations

Sierra Construction Trackman Baseball installation

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GETTING IN THE ZONE

TrackMan Baseball is a 3D Doppler radar system that precisely measures the location, trajectory and spin rate of hit and pitched baseballs. The radar system collects 20,000 samples per second and captures more than 27 measurements per hit/pitched ball. TrackMan Baseball has been installed throughout MLB stadiums, in major NCAA ball fields and in many minor league parks.

M.I. Tech Construction’s Project Manager Mike Wineke was destined to manage M.I. Tech’s TrackMan installations. A former college baseball player, Mike knows the teams, the statistics and the ball parks. When TrackMan inquired whether M.I. Tech could install TrackMan in a minor league field, Mike stepped up to the plate.

Ronald Reed, project manager for Trackman Baseball, said, “Mike shows up ready to make it happen. I know he’s already done his risk assessment. His ability to troubleshoot on the fly is incredibly valuable to us. Plus, he believes in continuous improvement – he’s always offering suggestions.” These have included cost savings ideas such as calibrations over the phone rather than in person, and improvements to mounting hardware.

Photos featured in this case study were taken at multiple job sites.

THE PROBLEM

The $68 million rebuild of Dudy Noble field at Mississippi State University has produced what Baseball America calls “The sport’s best venue.” As such, the university wanted TrackMan Baseball installed.

Typically, there is no blueprint to a ballpark’s TrackMan installation location. It’s a combination of art and science. TrackMan installations require a doppler radar transceiver unit at a right angle from the pitcher and the catcher and another one behind home plate.

“We do a lot of on-site figuring-it-out,” Mike said. “We often have very tight deadlines and limited windows to access the fields,” added Ron.

At the field, it was a buzz of activity with no point person. “The stadium rebuild was in the final stages with a lot of moving parts—it was intense.”

Mike concurred with onsite staff, chose the location, made laser measurements and installed the system components. The server was up, with power and a Cat 5 connection to the radar unit. “That was when the athletic director told us it wasn’t going to be allowed in that location,” Mike said.

THE SOLUTION

Unbeknownst to Mike, the location he’d chosen was where an ESPN camera would later be installed to capture fly ball coverage. There was no indication that this location should have been off limits.

“We were out of time for that day, so we discussed the situation and determined we’d have to move the system.”

The following week Mike was back in Mississippi with a new plan. They removed the system, scouted new locations, and ultimately set it up 8 feet away from the previous installation site. It was recalibrated, tested and ready to go that day.

THE RESULT

TrackMan provided an important part of the Mississippi State team’s broadcasts throughout the year, and delivered invaluable hitting and pitching data to the team, which finished 37-5 at home and ranked number 5 in the nation in 2019.

“Mike is not a ‘Change-Order,’ kind of guy, Ron said. “He comes to me with a solution—not just an alert that something’s up. We trust him to use his construction and baseball experience to get it right.”

“My philosophy is that we’ll work as long as it takes and do what it takes to get it done right,” Mike said.

M.I. Tech has now managed several dozen installations in 17 states, each with its own challenges but all with success.