Baseball's new rules: Your 20-second guide to the changes on the field

Faster games and more action — that's the hope attached to the rule changes that start today as spring training games get underway.

February 25, 2023 at 5:43PM
Alex Kirilloff fielded a ground ball in spring training. The first baseman made his 2023 debut with the Twins on Saturday.
Infielders, such as Twins first baseman Alex Kirilloff, need to start every play from the dirt this season, and the bases are larger. (Jerry Holt, Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Baseball's key rule changes:

  • Clocks come to baseball: There will be a 30-second timer between batters, a 15-second timer between pitches with the bases empty and 20 seconds with runners on. Upshot: Using the pitch timer, minor league games last season were shorter by an average of 26 minutes.
  • Fewer throw-overs: Pitchers are limited to two pick-off attempts or step-offs per batter. If a third is unsuccessful, it's a balk. Upshot: Steal attempts in the minor leagues increased from 2.23 to 2.83 last season.
  • Less shifting: All four infielders must play on the infield dirt, and the rules now state that two infielders must be on each side of second base when the pitch is released. Upshot: Because of shifting, the major league batting average on balls in play decreased from .301 in 2006 to .291 last season.
  • Bigger bases: Bases will be 18 inches square instead of 15. Upshot: The primary reason is to give players more room to operate and avoid collisions.

about the writer

Chris Miller

Editor

Chris Miller supervises coverage of professional sports teams. He has been at the Star Tribune since 1999 and is a former sports editor of the Duluth News-Tribune and the Mesabi Daily News.

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