In 2018, the NCAA allowed catchers to have an earpiece in their helmets to get pitch calls from a coach using a walkie-talkie or clip-on microphone. With the dugout-to-mound pitch sign system, the catcher also wears a wristband so he knows what pitch is coming and where to set up his target, but he plays no role in the communication.

The pitcher and catcher check them on their wristband to see the pitch call and the pitcher sets and fires. The idea is that by eliminating the middle man—the catcher—from the sign transmission process, pace of play can be improved and the threat of sign stealing, which has been front of mind after the Astros scandal in MLB, is eliminated.