In an effort to reduce the amount of time a Minor League takes, to help avoid using too many pitchers, and possibly to test out rules before implementing them in Major League Baseball, Minor League Baseball has announced a new set of pace-of-play rules for the 2018 season.  The rules deal with three areas: (1) extra inning games; (2) mound visits; and (3) pitch timer.

Extra Inning Games

Much like we have seen with international baseball like the World Baseball Classic, all extra inning games will begin with a runner on second base.  That runner will be the one who made the last out in the ninth inning.  For statistical purposes, that runner is treated as if he reached via a two base error.  Therefore, if a pitcher allows that runner to score, the run yielded will be an unearned run.

Mound Visits

Like Major League Baseball, Triple-A teams will be permitted just six mound visits per game.  The allowance for mound visits is expanded to 10 per game in Double-A, and there is not limitation for mound visits in Single-A or below.  There is no designated penalty for a team having more than the prescribed mound visits during a game.

A mound visit is a visit to the mound by any coach or player.  The exceptions to this rule are: (1) normal discussions that do not force a player or pitcher to relocate; (2) visits by players to clean spikes; (3) injury situations; or (4) player substitutions.  In his discretion, an umpire may expand upon the amount of mound visits if it is deemed a pitcher and catcher have crossed-up signals.

Pitch Timer

Once a pitcher has possession of the ball on the pitching dirt and the catcher is in the immediacy of home plate, that pitcher will have 15 seconds to begin his wind-up.  Should the pitcher fail to begin his wind-up within 15 seconds, the umpire shall award the batter a ball, and the pitch timer will begin anew.  When there is a runner on base the time shall be expanded to 20 seconds.

It should be noted this is not a hard and fast rule.  The rule does permit the pitcher to step off the rubber and begin the timer anew.  The timer is also reset in the event there is an attempted pick-off or time is called and granted.

This is not a rule applicable to only pitchers.  Batters will have seven seconds to get into the batter’s box and be “alert.”  Should a batter fail to be in position to take his at-bat within seven seconds, and time has not been granted, the umpire shall award the pitcher with a strike.

As this is a new rule, there will be a grace period during the first 15 games of the season to permit players to adjust.

Summation

These rule changes closely mirror to the rule changes MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred has been pushing since taking over the job.  It will be interesting to see the effects these rule changes has on both the pace of the game and the players.  Even if these rules are not eventually put into effect in MLB, we will at least see young players with a quicker pace to their play when they do reach the majors.