Cleveland Baseball Insider

MLB Will Look Much Different To Fans In 2023

MLB will implement a number of rule changes during the 2023 season that will force even super fans to readjust how they watch the game.

Tommy Wild

In this story:

Spring Training games start in just over two weeks which means that Opening Day will follow right behind and be here before we know it. As exciting as this is, baseball fans will have to reintroduce themselves to some aspects of the game.

The 2023 season will bring a handful of new rule changes that will drastically change the on-field product. Let's go through some of the biggest ones.

Say Bye To The Shift

This one is long overdue and may be one of the most significant changes in terms of what the product will look like and how stats will change. This shift is finally going away. 

Each team will need to have four players on the infield with two on each side of the second base. The way it should be. 

Pick Up The Pace, Enter The Pitch Clock

MLB has been actively looking for ways to increase the pace of play for years now. They've tested the pitch clock in Minor League and now it's finally coming to the Majors. Here's how it'll work:

With the bases empty, the pitcher will have 15 seconds to throw their pitch. They'll have 20 seconds if there are runners on base. Finally, there will be a 30-second clock between hitters.

If the pitcher disobeys these rules the batter will be awarded a ball. If the batters break these rules then they will be given a strike. 

Pick Off Limit

Does this scene sound familiar to you? The opposing pitcher throws the ball over to the first base and the home crowd reigns "boos" in response. This happens three to four more times before the pitcher even motions toward home plate.

The pitcher will only be allowed to throw an attempt to pick off a runner two times. If the runner is not thrown out on the third attempt then it will be counted as a 

Bigger Bases

The actual bases that runners will be standing on will look different as well. they are going from 15-inch sides to 18-inch sides. (Home plate will remain the same.) This change purely has to do with safety.

The goal is that the bigger bases will decrease the number of collisions between the runner and the fielder. 

While this still needs to be proven, I'm all for any changes that protect players from easily avoidable injury. 

Sep 10, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Cleveland Guardians left fielder Steven Kwan (38) steals second base ahead of the tag by Minnesota Twins second baseman Nick Gordon (1) in the fourth inning at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

Position Players Pitching

A position player taking the mound used to be a rare sight on the diamond. It's what made it so much fun to see a player such as Brett Phillips wind up and strike a batter out. 

However, teams throughout a position player on the mound way too often during the 2022 season. Some teams even had a non-pitcher on the mound if they were in the lead. I may be in the minority here, but positioning players on the mound this match isn't a great look for the sport. 

MLB is cracking down on this for 2023. However, this won't be a huge change for the Guardians as they rarely saw a position player on the mound outside of Ernie Clement a handful of times. 

Now a position player will be permitted to pitch if a team is up by 10 or more runs in the ninth innings, a team is down by eight or more runs at any part of the game, or the game goes into extra innings. 

All of these rule changes will force fans to readjust how they watch the game that they know and love. We'll get the first glimpse of what the changes will look like when Spring Training games get underway. 

-----

Read More:

 The Guardians Are Underway At Spring Training In Goodyear

Cleveland Guardians 2023 Top 50 Prospects, No. 47 LHP Tim Herrin

Which Guardians Will Compete In The World Baseball Classic?

Guardians Claim Former White Sox Pitcher Off Waivers

Guardians Complete Trade With Reds

Be sure to stay locked into Cleveland Baseball Insider all the time!

SUBSCRIBE to the CBI YouTube channel

Follow Cleveland Baseball Insider on Twitter: @CBI_FanNation

Published
Tommy Wild
TOMMY WILD

Home/News