For the past several seasons, we have new rules implemented by the MLB including the Ghost Runner and the bigger bases. The MLB has finally announced the rule changes for the 2024 season. According to the league’s press release, these are what the competition committee (comprised of six owners, four players and one umpire) have agreed on:
Runner’s Lane: The Runner’s Lane will be widened to include the dirt area between the foul line and the infield grass. Widening the lane allows batters to take a more direct path to first base while retaining protection from interference. The distance between the foul line and the infield grass will be between 18 and 24 inches in all parks, with some limited grace periods granted by MLB due to difficulty in modifying the field (e.g., synthetic turf field).
The runner’s lane rule change is more or less a continuation of the enlarged bases. The MLB wants to allow more safety for the players and widening the lane between home and first allows them to do that. It’ll create less interference.
Pace of Game: MLB proposed minor changes to the Pace of Game Regulations to address an increase in game time as the season progressed – the average nine-inning game time increased seven minutes from April to September (five minutes after controlling for the number pitches, breaks, and runs scored).
In accordance with this rule, the MLB has also changed the amount of time between pitches with runners on base. It will decrease from 20 seconds to 18 seconds. Teams will now have four mound visits rather than five. Clubs averaged only 2.3 mound visits per game in 2023. So this one makes sense. Umpires will also permit defensive players to signal for a mound visit without actually visiting the mound to further help improve the pace of the game. The last rule changed is that a pitcher who is sent out to warm up for an inning must pitch to at least one batter.
The MLB Rule Changes ahead of the 2024 season will continue to increase a faster-paced game and enhance player safety.
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