MILFORD, CT -- 03/05/08 --
ProBatter Sports has signed a deal with the
Pittsburgh Pirates for the club to acquire two of its leading-edge
ProBatter PX2 video pitching simulators. The Bucs becomes the fifth major
league organization to purchase the ultra-sophisticated systems, which
employ patented technology to recreate the experience of facing live
pitching in a completely controlled environment.
The deal was struck with Pirates General Manager, Neal Huntington, and
Director of Player Development, Kyle Stark. Both executives joined
Pittsburgh this past off-season after serving in the Cleveland Indians'
front office and helping to build the team into perennial contenders.
While with the Tribe, Huntington and Stark oversaw the acquisition of
multiple ProBatter systems for use throughout the organization, including a
unit used regularly by players at Jacobs Field. Last year, the Indians
finished first in the American League Central Division.
"We are very pleased by the Pirates commitment and their decision to include
ProBatter in their training regimen," said Adam Battersby, President of
ProBatter Sports. "They have joined the growing number of major league clubs
that recognize the value of our unique systems and we are delighted to be an
increasingly important part of how today's players maximize their
potential."
The Pirates will be installing the ProBatter systems at their PNC Park home
in Pittsburgh, as well as their Pirate City spring training site in
Bradenton, Florida.
ProBatter has sold multiple systems to the New York Yankees for players'
use at Yankee Stadium and the ballparks of three of their minor league
teams. In addition, the world champion Boston Red Sox and New York Mets
have ProBatter simulators installed at their spring training locations in
Florida, where major and minor league players can use the machines to train
and rehabilitate throughout the year.
The most advanced training tool available for hitters working on improving
their timing and mechanics, ProBatter combines the most recent computer and
video innovations to create a perfectly synchronized pitching simulation.
The PX2 offers a startingly realistic experience, not unlike an aircraft
flight simulator used to train pilots, with the system fully programmable
to replicate any conceivable hitting scenario.
The ProBatter PX2 allows a hitter to face a DVD-quality image of a real
pitcher, which is projected onto an 8x10 foot screen. The pitcher winds up
(or throws from a stretch) -- at the moment of release, an actual ball is
fired through a small hole in the screen, delivering virtually any pitch a
human being can. Synchronization is precise and the effect is extremely
realistic. Hitters can be challenged by an endless array of fastballs,
sinkers, cutters, curves, sliders, change-ups, etc. -- at speeds up to 100
mph and variable in increments of two mph. Moreover, the pitches can be
delivered with pinpoint accuracy and thrown to pre-selected locations
inside and outside the strike zone.
Ballplayers benefit from a hitting experience that very closely simulates
live major league quality pitching. Through this nearly perfect recreation
of reality, the ProBatter system can hone hitting skills like no other
pitching machine ever created.
Besides the major league clubs that have embraced ProBatter, the pitching
simulators have proven to be extremely popular throughout the baseball
world. Division I college programs, Michigan, Connecticut, Maine, Navy,
Old Dominion and Nevada incorporate ProBatter systems in their training
routines, as does the 2005 Japan Series champion, Chiba Lotte Marines,
under the leadership of former big league player and manager, Bobby
Valentine. The systems are also in high demand at private training
facilities, while even individuals have purchased units -- including active
pro players, Jason Giambi and Trot Nixon.
About ProBatter Sports
ProBatter Sports was formed in 1999 by members of Kent Communications, Ltd.
and Stahl Real Estate, LLC. Stahl Real Estate is one of the principal
commercial real estate developers in New York City, while Kent
Communications is a publisher of a variety of journals and books on such
diverse subjects as intellectual property and licensing.
Originally founded around the ProBatter Professional system, the ProBatter
product line has substantially expanded since its inception with products
such as the ProBatter II retrofit kit for commercial batting cages,
ProBatter Professional Softball system, and a host of ancillary products
including a Smart Card control system, a Scoring system, feeder systems,
and the ProBatter seamed pitching machine balls, which are licensed to
Baden Sports. The ProBatter line of products has received 13 U.S. patents
and more than 20 international patents.
www.probatter.com
SSA Public Relations Media Contact:
Elliott Chang
(818) 907-5929
