MLB Again Implements Rule Changes for 2024 Season
Major League Baseball's competition committee has approved several rule changes for the upcoming 2024 season, including adjustments to the pitch timer and basepaths. The goal is to improve the pace of the game and reduce the average game time.
Pitch Timer and Basepaths Adjustments
Major League Baseball's competition committee has approved several rule changes for the 2024 season. One of the changes includes subtracting two seconds from the pitch timer with men on base, reducing it from 20 seconds to 18 seconds. Additionally, the runner's lane to first base will be widened, extending from the dirt to the cut of the infield grass. The distance between the foul line and the infield grass will be between 18 and 24 inches in all parks, with some exceptions granted by MLB due to field modification difficulties.
These adjustments aim to improve the pace of the game and reduce the average nine-inning game time, which increased by seven minutes from April to September last year, the first season with a pitch clock.
Additional Changes for 2024 Season
In addition to the pitch timer and basepaths adjustments, there are several other rule changes for the 2024 season. When men are on base, pitchers will have 18 seconds instead of 20 to begin their motion to home. However, there will be no changes to the pitch clock when the bases are empty, and pitchers will still have 15 seconds to begin their delivery in those situations.
Furthermore, pitchers who begin to warm up at the start of an inning will now be required to face at least one batter, preventing their replacement during or after warmups. Mound visits will also be reduced from five to four per game, as they are among fans' least favorite events in baseball.
Other Adjustments and Withdrawn Proposals
The pitch timer will now reset after a dead ball as soon as the pitcher is given a new one and play is set to resume. Additionally, during pitching changes, if the clock is under two minutes as the reliever exits the bullpen and onto the warning track, it will reset back to 2:00 instead of 2:15 as it did last year.
However, a proposal to reset the pitch clock as soon as a batter calls a timeout has been withdrawn. Umpires will continue to use their judgment as to when the clock starts again.
