MLB New Rules for 2023

The first rule we will look at is the pitch clock. They are adding a pitch clock to cut down the time of the game. When they tested it in the minor leagues it brought down the average game time by twenty-five minutes. The pitch clocks will be positioned on both sides of home plate and in the center field batter's eye. The batter’s eye is where the batter can see the center field wall while standing at home plate before batting. The pitch timer will allow the pitcher 15 seconds between pitches with no runners on base, and 20 seconds with runners on base. There will also be 30 seconds between batters. The pitcher must release the ball before the timer is up or it will be counted as and automatic ball. This doesn’t just apply to the pitchers u also the batter. The batters must be in the box and be ready for a pitch before the 8 second mark or will be charged with a strike. The umpires are in charge of enforcing it. They will have a belt on them that will have the clock at it will beep when the timer is up in order to let them know that the pitcher needs to have thrown by then.

Next, is the addition of larger bases. The bases are going to be 18 inches instead of 15 inches.  It will allow the players to operate around the bases easier. It will reduce the risk of injury. When they introduced the bigger bases in the minor leagues the injury rate went down thirteen percent.  It could also encourage the players to steal bases since there is less space between them. In the minors, the steal attempts went up by one and two percent. Within the last couple of  years, the steal attempts have gone down considerably so they are hoping it will bring back stealing bases to the game.