The New York Times · 26 Sep, 09:30 · Technology briefing

Cubs’ investment in innovative bat technology part of a growing MLB-wide trend

Major League Baseball teams, including the Chicago Cubs, are increasingly investing in advanced bat technology to enhance player performance and competitive advantage.

What it means for you ↓ Courses for this story

30%premium for professionals who pair domain skills with tech fluency

3.5xfaster skill turnover — staying current is the moat

74%of employers fund staff who self-start upskilling

20days to your first credential

The briefing

The story
in brief.

What happened, who it affects, and why it landed on our intelligence desk — in plain English, sixty seconds or less.

Major League Baseball teams, including the Chicago Cubs, are increasingly investing in advanced bat technology to enhance player performance and competitive advantage. This shift reflects a broader industry trend where organisations prioritise data-driven innovation and engineering excellence. The move signals a departure from traditional methods, emphasising the integration of sophisticated materials science and analytical insights. For professionals, this highlights the growing importance of technological adaptation within established sectors, demonstrating how innovation drives value creation even in sports-centric business models.

Employer demand for Medical Physics skills — indexed growth since 2019
Indicative index of skill mentions in professional job postings for the field this story moves (2019 = 1)

Your move

What this means
for your career.

Every headline redistributes opportunity. Here is who this one rewards — and how to be on the right side of it.

You should recognise that technical innovation is now central to competitive strategy across industries. As organisations invest in advanced tools, skills in data analytics, materials science, and product development become highly valuable. Professionals in engineering and sports management must adapt by understanding how technology influences performance metrics. You should focus on bridging the gap between technical capabilities and business objectives. Smart professionals will upskill in data interpretation and innovation management to lead these transitions. Ignoring this trend risks obsolescence, whereas embracing it positions you as a strategic asset capable of driving measurable improvements through technological integration.

For this story, the fields that convert it into pay are Medical Physics, Python Data Visualisation Libraries Mastery, API Development and Staff Recruitment And Retention — exactly the programmes matched below. The chart shows the indicative salary uplift certified professionals report in each of those fields; every one of them is a click away, from £79, finishing in as few as 20 days.

Indicative salary uplift in the fields matched to this story
Indicative ranges from published continuing-education salary studies, by field — each field is a recommended course below

Matched to this story

Enrol in these
to benefit.

These programmes position you for exactly this shift — online, self-paced, and finishing with a verifiable certificate you can share the day you pass.