New MLB Rules For 2024: First-Base Runner's Lane Widened, Pitch Clock Reduced

MLB's Joint Competition Committee approved multiple rule changes for 2024, including a clearer baserunning path to first base and fewer mound visits.

Major League Baseball instituted several new rules for 2024, including a modification of the running lane to first base.

The Joint Competition Committee, which was created as part of the Collective Bargaining Agreement between MLB and the MLB Players Association in 2022, approved widening the batter's running lane to include the dirt between the foul line and grass. Runners had been required to run on the dirt between the foul line and inside a three-foot perimeter to the right of the foul line or risk being called out for interference. It's now acceptable for runners to be on the left of the foul line as long as both feet remain on the dirt.

The change extends the running lane to the grass, a distance of 18 to 24 inches between the foul line and the grass in each park. The league is granting a limited grace period for parks facing difficulties with the alterations.

The committee, which includes six owners, four players, and one umpire, also reduced the pitch clock with runners on base to 18 seconds from 20 seconds.

The bulk of the other changes are aimed at improving the pace of play issues.

The 15-second pitch clock with no runners on remains the standard, and pitchers retain the option to step off to reset the clock up to two times per plate appearance without penalty. The committee's vote followed conversations with general managers, managers, and the MLB Umpires Association.

Other pace-related rules changes:

Mound visits: Team allotments are reduced to four from five. An extra ninth-inning mound visit is still available if the defensive team has no visits left after the eighth inning. Additionally, umpires will permit defensive players to signal for a mound visit without visiting the mound. The committee hopes this change will cut down on unnecessary player meetings on the mound that are more about stalling between pitches and less about discussing strategy.

Pitching changes: If a new pitcher steps onto the warning track with less than two minutes remaining on the inning break clock, the clock will reset to two minutes instead of 2:15. Inning breaks that included pitching changes averaged 2:35 in 2023. Broadcasters are only guaranteed two minutes of commercial time.

Circumvention: The Field Timing Coordinator, the person running the pitch clock at each ballpark, will restart the clock after a dead ball when the pitcher has the ball and play is ready to resume. The pitcher will no longer be required to be on the mound. This removes the pitcher’s ability to stall the start of the clock by meandering around the mound.

Batter faced requirement: A pitcher sent to the mound to warm up before an inning must face at least one batter. This is in addition to any requirements under the three-batter minimum rule. According to MLB, there were 24 instances of a pitcher warming up between innings but being replaced before throwing a pitch in 2023, including twice in the World Series. The league reports this added an average of about three minutes of dead time.

Maybe Down The Road

The committee tabled a proposed rule aimed at limiting fielders’ ability to block bases other than home plate. This player-proposed change was addressed in the Competition Committee and experimented with in the Arizona Fall League.

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