Former MLB Players Lead Ember Sports Mobile App, Bringing Pro-Level Training to Athletes Everywhere

2026-04-21 · Source: The AI Journal · Field: Technology & Digital — Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, Emerging Technologies & Innovation, Data Science & Analytics · Depth: Novice, short

Summary

Ember Sports, a sports technology company, launched a new mobile app on April 21, 2026, designed to provide professional-level baseball and softball training tools to athletes nationwide. Developed in collaboration with former MLB players and coaches Brady Clark and Damon Mashore, the iOS app offers real-time performance insights using a mobile device, eliminating the need for costly hardware. Its capabilities include Hitting and Pitching Analyzers with video replay, telestration, and side-by-side comparisons. The platform also integrates virtual reality to teach advanced skills like pitch tunneling, simulating live pitching environments. Ember aims to expand access to advanced training for over 25 million U.S. athletes with a subscription starting at $12.99 per month.

Key takeaway

For product managers developing sports technology, your focus should be on reducing hardware dependency and leveraging existing mobile capabilities to lower user costs. Consider integrating VR for advanced skill development, as Ember Sports has done with pitch tunneling, to create a "disruptive technology" that expands market access beyond professional athletes. This approach can significantly broaden your user base and product appeal.

Key insights

Ember Sports democratizes professional baseball/softball training via mobile and VR, making advanced analytics accessible.

Principles

• Mobile devices enable advanced sports analytics.
• VR enhances training for complex athletic skills.
• Cost and access are major barriers to elite training.

Method

The Ember app uses built-in iOS video capture for immediate feedback, offering Hitting and Pitching Analyzers. It also employs VR to simulate live pitching and teach advanced pitch recognition and tunneling.

In practice

• Utilize mobile video for real-time performance analysis.
• Implement VR for simulating complex game scenarios.
• Offer subscription models to lower training cost barriers.

Topics

• Ember Sports App
• Baseball Training
• Softball Training
• Mobile Performance Analytics
• Virtual Reality Training

Best for: Product Manager, Entrepreneur, AI Product Manager, Tech Journalist, Domain Expert

Related on AIssential

• SportIQ expands connected sports ball technology with $6.2M raise — Embedded sensors in sports balls provide real-time performance analytics for training and professional applications.
• Counterfactual Optimization of Baseball Pitch Sequences and Estimation of Its Impact on Season-Level Statistics — Counterfactual optimization of baseball pitch sequences using a Transformer model can significantly improve season-level pitcher performance.
• The end of app-hopping: How embedded services are redefining the customer experience — Embedded services consolidate fragmented systems into seamless, domain-specific platforms, enhancing user retention and efficiency for SMBs.
• How Gorilla Tag is weathering the VR winter — Engaging, free-to-play VR experiences with unique mechanics can thrive even during industry downturns.
• How the Bond Between AI and Sports Continues to Grow — AI's data processing power is revolutionizing sports across performance, recruitment, fan engagement, and operations.
• Atomic Mobile Supports Connectivity for International Media Covering the FIFA World Cup — Global event connectivity requires specialized, cross-border operational workflows beyond standard wireless services.

Open in AIssential →

Editorial summary, takeaway, and curation by AIssential. Original article published by The AI Journal.