Goodbye, shift! Hello, pitch clock!? Why MLB is betting big on new rules for 2023 season
Since commissioner Rob Manfred took over in 2015, Major League Baseball has faced several key challenges — from navigating a COVID-shortened season and a contentious labor battle to controversies about sticky substances on the mound and the baseballs used across the sport. Now with spring camps set to open this week, MLB is about to embark on perhaps its greatest challenge yet: implementing dramatic on-field rule changes designed to make baseball more entertaining and played at a better pace.
Bigger bases, a pitch clock and rules clamping down on the infield shift headline the changes that will debut when spring training games begin on Feb. 24. These changes are part of MLB’s long-term vision for a faster-paced, action-packed future of the sport.
While these new rules have been accompanied by plenty of criticism, particularly by players who believe they are too quickly-implemented and too drastic, the league is confident the game will end up in a better place because of them. Mostly, the commissioner believes that MLB is listening to its fans.
“If you’re addressing what the fans want, you’re more likely than not to get it right,” Manfred said in a recent phone interview with ESPN.
“There’s an initial wave, where it’s ‘Oh my god, (we’re) going to ruin the game. But people see it and get used to it, and a lot of it turns positive for a lot of people.”
So, what rules are changing?
Let’s start with the pitch clock: With the bases empty, pitchers will now have 15 seconds to begin their motion once the catcher returns the ball to them and 20 seconds between pitches with runners on.
Pickoff attempts will be limited: Pitchers will also only be allowed two disengagements from the rubber — the number of times he can step off to throw to a base or to get a new sign.
Teams are no longer allowed to shift their infielders: The defense must position two infielders on each side of second base and all four infielders have to be on the infield dirt (or infield grass) as the ball is being pitched.
There will be larger bases: The size of each base will be increased to 18-inch squares instead of 15-inch squares.
Why MLB’s so confident in the changes
After years spent collecting data about what fans enjoy and would like to see improved about the sport, MLB hired former Red Sox and Cubs executive Theo Epstein in 2021 to consult on the experimentation of new rules at the minor league level. This provided the league with an opportunity to try to understand which changes work — and which don’t — before bringing them to the majors.
“At one point, I thought the panacea to fix everything in terms of making more contact for hitters was simply to move the mound further back,” one league official said. “That wasn’t feasible.”
MLB experimented with moving the mound back one foot farther from home plate in the independent Atlantic League but the results didn’t convince them to continue to examine that change at other levels. Other experiments did stick. All in all, the results of over 8,000 games played, under a variety of new rules in the minor leagues, drove how Manfred and his lieutenants arrived with the changes that will begin in 2023.
To find out if fans were in favor of the changes playing out in lower-level ballparks across the country, MLB asked 15,000 minor league fans if they supported the use of a pitch clock, broken up by how many games they attended with it in use.
The initial response to the idea was positive, and MLB found that the more games that fans experienced with it in place, the more they enjoyed it.
Their data told them that fans liked faster paced games and if the minor league results are any indication, game times could be drastically reduced in the majors this season. On average, minor league games with the pitch clock in place last year were 25 minutes shorter in 2022 than games without the clock during the 2021 season. But from time of game to the impact of any minor league experiment, the league acknowledges that baseball is entering uncharted territory and not every result will carry over.
With all that in mind, MLB officials have spent the winter preparing teams. There have been weekly calls with coaching staffs, regular meetings with managers and training for umpires in advance of the sport’s historic facelift.
Why players voted against the changes
Despite the league’s confidence, there has been skepticism throughout the process from some major league players.
A newly formed competition committee — composed of six owners, four players and an umpire — voted 7-4 in favor of the changes last September. But all four players on the committee voted against everything except bigger bases. MLBPA leadership elected not to comment for this story, noting it stands by the statement it released after the vote that said in part: Major League Baseball was unwilling to meaningfully address the areas of concern that Players raised, and as a result, Players on the Competition Committee voted unanimously against the implementation of the rules covering defensive shifts and the use of a pitch timer.
ESPN spoke to 18 players about the upcoming rule changes, and a theme emerged: They were amenable to changes, in theory, but irked by MLB’s implementation of these new rules. It was too much, too quickly — and they felt easing in some of the new rules would have been a better path to take. Many said they would have preferred to start with a longer pitch clock, and some wanted an adjustment to the shift rules instead of a full mandate deciding where players can stand on the diamond.
“Guys were a little uncomfortable with the clock, for the most part,” competition committee member and San Francisco Giants outfielder Austin Slater said. “The thing that players were most concerned about, regarding the pitch clock, was in conjunction with that fact you’re only allowed two pick-offs.
“I understand the league’s take, if you add pickoffs, you go down a slippery slope. But that’s one that’s going to take getting used to.”
Players also believe allowing pitchers only two disengagements from the rubber will impact the opponent’s running game in a dramatic way. The league countered by saying resetting the pitch clock while allowing unlimited step-offs would negate the intended purpose of a clock since pitchers could keep stepping off.
“The impact will be late in games and when you shake off signs and have to hold runners,” one veteran pitcher who played in the minors last season said. “Even with PitchCom, if you stand there and shake off, you’re going to run out of time because the clock starts the second you have the ball on the dirt. So pitchers might just stand in the grass and get their signs, I’m sure.”
Forcing a batter to be ready in the box with at least eight seconds remaining on the clock didn’t sit well with them either.
“Hitting isn’t easy,” one player said. “I need to do things at my pace, not the commissioner’s.”
The league says that making players hurry up a bit is a price they are willing to pay because fans want a better pace of play, which is something players also understand is important for the advancement of the sport.
“Players get the length part. If you play a four-hour game, we’re not getting home until midnight.” Slater said. “We feel it the most. If it’s a four-hour game, and we’re going into a day game the next day, you better believe the players aren’t happy about that.”
Despite the results of the committee’s vote, plenty of players are in favor of the rule changes. For example, the left-handed hitters ESPN talked welcome the elimination of the shift as do some of the sport’s best defensive players.
“I’m all for being in a position where I can be athletic and move a little bit more and try to make more defensive plays,” Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor said last year. “I think this is going to put us in a better position to make good plays.”
Manfred says he understands there won’t be complete agreement among players, but contends the changes are backed up by hard evidence from experimentation in the minors and fan surveys.
“The playing rule changes are really difficult to get a consensus,” Manfred said. “It can be as simple as if it’s good for hitters, it’s probably not good for pitchers.”
What to expect from here
While some players might not be immediately on board with every change, there will be no easing into the new rules at the major league level. MLB believes the sooner it applies them, the sooner everyone will adjust — because that is what it saw in the minor leagues, where pitch clock violations decreased quickly in the weeks after changes were implemented:
So starting with the first pitch of the first spring training game, the rules will be enforced to the letter of the law with the goal of getting players used to a new version of the sport as Opening Day approaches.
“Our players are great,” Manfred said. “They’re great athletes. I think they are more than capable of adjusting. The vast majority of them already have experience with these rules in the minor leagues.”
From the pace of games to the amount of action that takes place during them, Manfred’s vision is about to take hold. The commissioner is confident these changes are necessary to keep the game moving forward.
“I’d like to see a game that moves along with a brisk pace,” Manfred said. “A game that has more action in it and a game that emphasizes the athleticism of some of the greatest athletes in the world.”
Seven of eight first-round series in the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs have begun, and No. 8 gets rolling on Tuesday.
The Battle of Florida between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers begins anew (8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN), with both clubs looking like a legitimate Stanley Cup contender if they can survive the intrastate showdown.
Cats-Bolts is the third game of four Tuesday on the ESPN family of networks, following New Jersey–Carolina (6 p.m. ET, ESPN) and Ottawa–Toronto (7:30 p.m., ESPN2), and preceding the nightcap, Minnesota–Vegas (11 p.m. ET, ESPN).
What are the key storylines heading into Tuesday’s games? Who are the key players to watch?
Read on for game previews with statistical insights from ESPN Research, recaps of what went down Monday night, and the Three Stars of Monday Night from Arda Öcal.
Matchup notes
New Jersey Devils at Carolina Hurricanes
Game 2 (CAR leads 1-0) | 6 p.m. ET | ESPN
Game 1 sure did not go as planned for the Devils. A win at the legendarily loud Lenovo Center would’ve been stretching it, but losing Brenden Dillon, Cody Glass and Luke Hughes to injury was not an ideal outcome either.
They’ll hope to rebound Tuesday before the series shifts to Newark. Closing the shot attempt differential might help, as the famously possession-savvy Hurricanes held a 45-24 edge on shots on goal in Game 1.
For years, the knock on Carolina was that it lacked that one goal scorer who could get the Canes over the hump in the playoffs. Many observers thought the Canes had acquired such a player in Mikko Rantanen in January. Ironically, it was the player Carolina acquired in its subsequent trade of Rantanen to Dallas — Logan Stankoven — who scored two goals in Game 1. Will he add to that total in Game 2?
Of note heading into Tuesday’s game, the Devils have come back to win a playoff series after losing the first game 11 out of 26 times (42%); that figure drops to 20% if they fall behind 0-2. The Hurricanes have won six of their past seven series after winning Game 1.
Ottawa Senators at Toronto Maple Leafs
Game 2 (TOR leads 1-0) | 7:30 p.m. ET | ESPN2
The atmosphere was intense for Game 1, and the Maple Leafs’ “Core Four” led the way: Mitch Marner (one goal, two assists), William Nylander (one goal, one assist), John Tavares (one goal, one assist) and Auston Matthews (two assists) each filled up the scoresheet. A continuation of that output will obviously help Toronto overwhelm its provincial neighbor.
Slowing down the Maple Leafs could depend on discipline, according to Ottawa captain Brady Tkachuk. “We took too many penalties, they scored on [them] and that’s the game,” Tkachuk told reporters after Game 1. “So that’s on us. We’ve got to be more disciplined.”
The Sens will also need to capitalize on their chances. According to Stathletes, Ottawa had five high-danger scoring chances in this game, and produced only two goals.
Florida Panthers at Tampa Bay Lightning
Game 1 | 8:30 p.m ET | ESPN
This is the fourth time that the two Sunshine State franchises have met in the postseason, and all four of the meetings have occurred since 2021.
In each instance, the winner of the series has gone on to reach the Stanley Cup Final — Lightning in 2021 and 2022; Panthers in 2024 — while the 2021 Lightning and 2024 Panthers won it all.
Unsurprisingly, Nikita Kucherov is Tampa Bay’s leading scorer against Florida, with 25 points (five goals, 20 assists) in 15 games. Aleksander Barkov is the Panthers’ leading scorer against the Lightning, with 13 points (three goals, 10 assists) in 15 games.
The two teams split their meetings in the regular season, with the Lightning winning the most recent, 5-1 on April 15.
Minnesota Wild at Vegas Golden Knights
Game 2 (VGK leads 1-0) | 11 p.m. ET | ESPN
The underdog Wild set a physical tone to the series in Game 1, outhitting the Golden Knights 54-29, but the hosts emerged with a 4-2 victory. Tomas Hertl, Pavel Dorofeyev and Brett Howden (two) were the goal scorers for Vegas, and Matt Boldy was responsible for both Minnesota goals.
Howden, who had never scored double-digit goals until his 23 this season, earned praise from coach Bruce Cassidy after Game 1. “He didn’t change his game,” Cassidy told reporters. “He played physical. He’s part of our penalty kill. He’s always out when the goalie’s out, typically one of the six guys we use a lot because of his versatility. He can play wing. He can take draws as a center. He’s been real good for us all year and good again tonight.”
Sunday’s game was the NHL debut for 2024 first-round pick Zeev Buium, who just finished his season with the University of Denver. He played 13 minutes, 37 seconds and finished with one shot on goal.
Arda’s Three Stars of Monday
The greatest goal scorer in NHL history just keeps finding the back of the net. He had two goals, including the overtime winner, as the Caps take Game 1 3-2 despite a valiant third period effort from Montreal to send it to the extra frame.
Connor had the game-winning goal in the third period for the second straight game, as Winnipeg takes both games at home for the 2-0 series lead on the Blues.
Further proof that the Oilers are never out of the game, McDavid helped erase a 4-0 deficit with a goal and three assists, despite the Oilers falling 6-5 late in a thrilling Game 1.
Monday’s scores
Capitals 3, Canadiens 2 (OT)
Washington leads 1-0
Much of the regular season was spent focused on Alex Ovechkin‘s “Gr8 Chase” of Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goal-scoring record, and he scored historic goal No. 895 on Sunday, April 6. It turns out, Ovi likes the spotlight. The Capitals superstar opened the scoring in the game, and bookended it with the overtime winner — his first ever, believe it or not — as the Caps survived a thriller in Game 1, following Nick Suzuki‘s tying goal with 4:15 remaining. Full recap.
1:51
Alex Ovechkin’s OT goal wins Game 1 for Capitals
Alex Ovechkin’s second goal of the game is an overtime winner that gives the Capitals a 1-0 series lead vs. the Canadiens.
Jets 2, Blues 1
Winnipeg leads 2-0
Game 1 between the two clubs was tightly contested until the Jets took over in the third period. That trend took hold again on Monday — the score remained tied into 1-1 the third period, when Winnipeg’s Kyle Connor scored at the 1:43 mark, and the Jets were able to hold the Blues off the scoreboard for the duration. Connor’s linemate Mark Scheifele assisted on the game-winner and opened the scoring, giving him a league-leading five points this postseason. Full recap.
0:40
Kyle Connor scores clutch goal to put Jets ahead in 3rd period
Kyle Connor extends Winnipeg’s lead after a clutch goal early in the 3rd period vs. St. Louis.
Stars 4, Avalanche 3 (OT)
Series tied 1-1
The series that every observer thought would be the closest in the first round didn’t look that way in Game 1, as the Avs ran over the Stars en route to a 5-1 win. Game 2 was much more in line with expectations, as the two Western powerhouses needed OT to settle things. Colin Blackwell was the hero for Dallas, scoring with 2:14 remaining in the first OT period. Full recap.
0:50
Colin Blackwell comes up with big OT winner for Stars
Colin Blackwell sends the Stars faithful into jubilation with a great overtime winner to tie the series at 1-1 vs. the Avalanche.
Kings 6, Oilers 5
Los Angeles leads 1-0
Monday’s nightcap was a delight to those who like offensive hockey and were willing to stay up late. The Kings roared out to a four-goal lead late in the second period before Edmonton’s Leon Draisaitl scored to pull within three with six seconds remaining. The two teams traded goals to start the third, before the Oilers notched three in a row to tie up the festivities with 1:28 remaining on Connor McDavid‘s first of the 2025 playoffs. L.A.’s Phillip Danault sent his club’s fans home happy, scoring the pivotal goal with 42 seconds left. Full recap.
0:46
Kings retake lead on Phillip Danault’s goal in final minute
Phillip Danault restores the lead for the Kings with a goal vs. the Oilers in the closing moments.
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