About Us
HeyBLU started on the diamond—so every bullpen can have a Big League Umpire.
We exist because the strike zone has never been consistent, accessible, or easy to measure in practice. We're coaches, players, and builders who believe technology can give pitchers objective feedback, help coaches teach command, and make every bullpen rep count—in baseball and fast-pitch softball.
Our Story
On amateur fields, players and coaches rarely know an umpire's name—so they call out "Blue" or "Hey Blue" to get attention, say hello, or ask a question. We took that universal baseball and softball habit and modernized it into HeyBLU, where BLU stands for Big League Umpire.
I'm Rob Regan. HeyBLU didn't start in a lab—it started on the field. I've pitched in MSBL for years, and like a lot of players, I was vocal about bad strike zones. My daughter's last baseball at-bat at nine ended on pitches over her head, and the pattern kept repeating across youth games and adult leagues. By early 2023, when AI breakthroughs became mainstream, I found myself asking: "Why can't we solve this with technology?"
A Marin County athletic director later told me their JV teams didn't have umpires because of the shortage. That changed everything. Officials face worsening sportsmanship, low pay, and constant pressure—especially the youngest umpires. Many quit within two seasons. I realized this wasn't just about accuracy; it was about supporting the people keeping the game running.
So we built HeyBLU: a bullpen and practice tracker that runs on a single iPhone. It delivers a repeatable strike zone, live ball–strike calls during sessions, and pitch-location data coaches can review after every bullpen.
We're building this for coaches, parents, and the pitchers who put in the reps between games.
Questions for leagues or coaches? info@heyblu.ai
The Team
Rob Regan
Founder & CEO
Long-time MSBL pitcher and youth coach with Sausalito Marin City Little League (SMCLL).
20+ years as a self-driven real estate entrepreneur and 10 years in tech/media ad sales.
Founded HeyBLU after seeing how inconsistent umpiring and the national official shortage were affecting games at every level.
Leads product and development. Lives in Sausalito and coaches his 10-year-old's teams.
Jonathan (JP) Parkhurst
Chief Revenue Officer
JP and I have played together and against each other in MSBL for nearly 20 years. I knew him as a competitor and teammate—but I had no idea about the depth of his professional and personal story.
JP is a 20-year global sales and staffing leader with experience at WeWork, 24 Hour Fitness, Blend, GoPro, and multiple startups, including one he founded and funded himself. He has built revenue teams, hired engineers at scale, and crafted GTM strategies for high-growth companies.
But his journey started far from boardrooms. JP grew up in an abusive foster home, deployed to Iraq, and later fell into PTSD and addiction—eventually living on the streets of San Francisco. Now more than 20 years sober, he's a regular speaker at AA and the founder of SeekHaven, a platform that supports people facing the struggles he once lived through.
He's also a dad and baseball coach. When he heard about HeyBLU, his reaction was simple:
"Of course Rob would build something to fix the strike zone—he's been complaining about it for two decades."
Now he helps turn that purpose into traction.
Brian Marcus
Strategic Advisor, IP & Innovation
Brian and I have played on the same MSBL teams for over a decade. When I first started exploring whether a single camera could reliably call balls and strikes, I asked Brian—an IP attorney—if he thought it was even possible. At first, he wasn't convinced. But once he saw our early prototype, he was all in.
Brian brings rare sports-tech IP expertise. His firm handled MLB's first strike zone patent. He personally worked on the NFL's yellow first-down marker patent. He has filed all HeyBLU patents and trademarks, and guides our long-term defensibility.
He's also a Little League coach with two sons who grew up playing the game. He understands both sides: the technology, and the parents and coaches who just want fairness on the field.
Why We're Different
iPhone at the practice mound
Live ball–strike calls through earbuds—no dedicated cameras or sensors.
Objective feedback for the bullpen
A repeatable zone so coaches and parents see command, not guesswork.
Proof you can share
Location, heatmaps, and session summaries after every bullpen.
Get Involved
HeyBLU is live on the App Store for iPhone.
Download HeyBLU
Track your next bullpen with a Big League Umpire on your iPhone.
Contact
Leagues, coaches, and partnerships:
Want early builds? Join our TestFlight and share on-field feedback.