Major League Baseball
NEW YORK, NY (WSAU) — It’s not just the league structure and number of teams that are getting overhauled for the 2021 Minor League Baseball season.
On Thursday Major League Baseball announced a series of experimental rules for each level of its farm system that will be implemented, and in some cases adjusted, during the upcoming season.
Those rules are as follows:
• Slightly larger bases with a less-slippery surface (all Triple-A leagues)
• A requirement that all four infielders have their cleats within the outer boundary of the infield dirt when the pitch is delivered (all Double-A)
• A requirement that pitchers must step off the rubber to attempt a pickoff (all High-A)
• A limit of two pickoff attempts per plate appearance (all Low-A)
• A 15-second pitch clock (Low-A West only)
• An automatic ball-strike system (Low-A Southeast only)
The limitation on shifts at the Double-A level could be further modified during the season to include a requirement two infielders be placed on either side of second base before the pitch is thrown. The pickoff attempts limit at Low-A would limit a pitcher to just two attempts during an at-bat. If a 3rd attempt is made and the runner is not thrown out, a balk would be called allowing all runners to advance a base.
The automated ball-strike system has previously been tried in the independent Atlantic League.
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Some of the experimental changes are being made with an eye towards player safety, including the larger bases at the Triple-A level. Most of the rest are proposed as a way of speeding up the game.
This winter Major League Baseball reorganized the Minor League system which resulted in fewer teams. Several clubs ended up changing leagues and classifications entirely, while three formerly independent clubs were absorbed into affiliated ball including the Saint Paul Saints and Sugarland (TX) Skeeters.
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