Oakland Ballers to Make History with AI-Managed Baseball Game

The Oakland Ballers of the independent Pioneer League are set to break new ground, becoming the first professional sports team to be managed by artificial intelligence during a regular-season game.

The milestone event will take place this Saturday on Fan Appreciation Day, with Ballers manager Aaron Miles handing over in-game decision-making to an AI system developed by Los Angeles–based software firm Distillery.

The technology will control critical tactical choices including lineup selection, pitching changes, pinch hitters, and defensive positioning. Base-running decisions, however, will remain under human control due to the real-time nuance required.

The project builds on the Ballers’ fan-first ethos. Last year’s Fan Appreciation Day saw supporters vote on in-game decisions via a mobile app—an experiment that ended in a loss but generated excitement. This year’s AI initiative raises the stakes further, prompting whether artificial intelligence can outperform traditional baseball judgment.

Distillery’s cross-platform application is designed to process live stats, historical performance data, and contextual factors such as weather to inform real-time decisions.

A Balance Between Technology and Human Leadership

Sharing that AI is not intended to replace managers, but to explore how data-driven decision-making can augment coaching and enhance fan engagement, Ballers CEO and co-founder Paul Freedman, said: “Managing is about more than strategy, motivating players, building relationships, and providing support remain uniquely human roles.”

Miles, who has guided the Ballers to a strong season, echoed that sentiment with cautious optimism. He suggested the AI may mirror his own successful strategies while acknowledging the overwhelming nature of baseball data, where AI could prove useful.

The initiative reflects the Ballers’ broader mission to innovate around fan engagement, including fan ownership opportunities and board representation.

Freedman positioned Oakland, long recognised for its sports innovation legacy, as the ideal home for such an experiment, suggesting the trial could pave the way for wider exploration of AI in baseball.

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