By Michalis Michaelides 

At the heart of the collaboration between Sony and NPB is Hawk-Eye’s best-in-class optical tracking technology, delivered through cameras installed in all 12 NPB stadiums across Japan. This league-wide deployment was completed in 2024 when, as George Baines, Head of Baseball at Sony’s sports businesses, explains,  “we brought our best-in-class technology to a world class league, setting a new standard for data quality in the NPB”. This high-quality optical tracking data can be reused across multiple platforms, unlocking new ways for fans to understand and engage with the game. 

Data-Driven Insights in the NPB+ Mobile App

As part of this partnership, Hawk-Eye technology underpins the launch of the NPB+ mobile app, developed in collaboration with Konami Digital Entertainment. Using Hawk-Eye’s optical tracking data together with Sony’s visualisation technology, the app provides fans with access to rich, data driven insights and visualisations throughout the season. 

*This application is only available in Japan.

Baseball fans can explore pitch type and trajectory, speed, spin rate, swing speed, sprint speed and defensive throw speed, all presented in a simple, intuitive format. As George Baines notes, “our data powers all of their fan engagement platforms. It allows fans to watch 3D virtual recreations of any game in near real-time, revisiting key moments from their favorite teams, enhancing understanding and enjoyment of the game”.

Bringing Baseball to Life Through Alternate Broadcasts

One of the most innovative activations within the campaign is a non-live alternate broadcast created in collaboration with NPB Enterprise Co. Ltd., Sanrio Co. Ltd. and Sony. Using some of the most recognisable characters in Japanese entertainment and culture – including Hello Kitty, Kuromi and Bad Badtz-Maru – the broadcast reimagined a professional baseball game through animation.

Hawk-Eye’s best-in-class optical tracking data was fed into Beyond Sports’ visualisation engine, transforming real-world play into an immersive, animated experience. The activation, created for the Yomiuri Giants vs Hiroshima Toyo Carp game during the 2025 season, was designed to engage wider audiences, including younger generations, and non-casual baseball fans.

The enhanced broadcast combined bat and ball tracking with detailed player movement data. Capturing the sharp, fast and rotational movements of pitchers and batters is particularly complex in baseball, requiring exceptional camera performance and data accuracy.

Each NPB stadium is equipped with eight Hawk-Eye cameras. Four cameras are dedicated to tracking the pitcher and batter at up to 300 frames per second, enabling the capture of detailed biomechanics data that is essential in a sport defined by explosive, rotational movement. As George Baines explains, “this high frame rate is critical to accurately capturing the full sequence of pitching and hitting mechanics that define elite baseball performance”. The remaining four cameras track the full field of play, capturing events such as landing distance, catches and defensive actions.

One Data Foundation, Endless Possibilities

This collaboration with the NPB demonstrates the power of a single, reliable data foundation. By establishing a league-wide infrastructure, Hawk-Eye’s optical tracking solutions support a diverse range of functions, exemplified by the same high-fidelity data stream that fuels immersive fan experiences through Beyond Sports’ data visualisation engine.

With proven league-wide deployment in Japan, Hawk-Eye continues to set the global standard for baseball tracking technology. We  deliver scalable technology that enhances performance, deepen storytelling, and drive  fan engagement across the global game.

Are you looking to revolutionise your league’s data strategy? Learn more about Hawk-Eye baseball solutions here.