The Major League Baseball announced a slew of rule changes that will be introduced for the 2023 season.
Pitch clocks, a ban on the shift and larger bases are all slated to make their debut throughout Spring Training, but none were perhaps more polarizing among fans than a rule that was introduced in 2020 and is now a permanent fixture on the diamond.
Just like the past three seasons, a runner will automatically be placed on second base to start every half-inning after the ninth for all regular season games. The rule was passed unanimously on Monday (Feb. 13) by the Joint Competition Committee.
Breaking: MLB’s Joint Competition Committee has voted unanimously to make the extra inning rule permanent for all regular season games moving forward. (2023 and beyond). A runner will be placed at second base at the start of every extra inning. Story coming at espn
— Jesse Rogers (@JesseRogersESPN) February 13, 2023
Initially adopted to preserve pitchers’ arms during the COVID-shortened season, the rule has been effective in shortening extra-inning games, as only seven contests have gone at least 13 innings over the past three seasons. In 2019, there were 37 such games.
Some fans were quick to chastise the permanent adoption of the rule, as they argue there are more important changes the league should be looking at.
Baseball fans: fire Manfred, end blackouts, and use the same baseball every game for every team
MLB: best I can do is permanently add a runner to 2nd in extra innings pic.twitter.com/Cc5lUHavWd
— Jenn (@baseballnchill) February 13, 2023
MLB also introduced new rules on Monday (February 13) regarding position players pitching. Under the new guidelines, a position player – not including two-way players – can only enter the game to pitch if their team is winning by at least 10 runs in the ninth inning or trailing by at least eight runs at any point. They can also pitch in extra innings.
This change comes as a result of a record number of position players taking the mound last season, with a whopping 132 position players recording appearances compared to 89 in 2021 and only three in 2008. Last year, a position player could pitch only in extra innings or if his team was losing or winning by six or more runs.
From the producers of
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/we bring you the best strikeouts of 2022. pic.twitter.com/mZjb1AVOTQ
— Cut4 (@Cut4) February 10, 2023
Let us know what you think about these changes by leaving a reaction at the bottom of this post or by tweeting us @celebsecrets.
