Major League Baseball announced that a variety of playing rules will be tested during the upcoming 2021 Minor League season.
The experimental playing rules were approved by the Competition Committee and the Playing Rules Committee. MLB will closely monitor and analyze the impact of each rule change throughout the year.
The rule changes being tested are designed to improve the pace and length of games, increase action on the basepaths, create more balls in play and reduce player injuries.
Triple-A rule changes
At the Triple-A level, the size of first, second and third base will be increased from 15 inches square to 18 inches. This decision was made with an eye on reducing player injuries and collisions.
The Competition Committee expects the change to have a modest impact on the success rate of stolen base attempts, as well as the frequency with which a batter reaches base on groundballs and bunt attempts.
Double-A rule changes
In Double-A, teams will be required to have a minimum of four players on the infield. Moreover, the players must have both feet completely in front of the outer boundary of the infield dirt.
These restrictions on defensive positioning are intended to increase the batting average on balls in play. Depending on the early results, MLB may require two infielders to be positioned entirely on each side of second base during the second half of the season.
High-A rule changes
In High-A, pitchers must disengage the rubber prior to throwing to any base, or else they will be called for a balk. A similar rule was implemented in the Atlantic League during the second half of the 2019 season, which resulted in a significant increase of stolen base attempts.
Low-A rule changes
Meanwhile in Low-A, pitchers will be limited to a total of two “step offs” or “pickoffs” per plate appearance while there is at least one runner on base.
A pitcher may attempt a third step off or pickoff in the same plate appearance, but if the runner safely returns to the occupied base, he will be called for a balk.
In the Low-A Southwest division, MLB will expand testing of the automatic ball-strike system (“ABS”) that began in the Atlantic League and Arizona Fall League to assist home plate umpires with calling balls and strikes.
In the Low-A West division, on-field timers (one in the outfield, two behind home plate between the dugouts) will be implemented to enforce time limits between delivery of pitches, inning breaks and pitching changes.
MLB continuing partnership with Atlantic League
After the 2020 season was cancelled due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, MLB’s partnership with the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball will continue this year.
The collaboration allows MLB to test and adjust experimental playing rules and changes to equipment in Atlantic League games. Any new experimental playing rules for the 2021 season will be announced in the coming weeks.
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