Report: MLB Competition Committee Votes to Implement New Rules in 2023
The Major League Baseball competition committee has voted on and approved new rules that will begin in the 2023 MLB season according to ESPN's Jeff Passan.
The new rules include implementing a 15-second pitch clock when there are no runners on base, which increases to 20 seconds when there are runners on the base paths.
It also bans the defensive shift, which will force teams to have two fielders on either side of second base and they must have both feet on the dirt.
This comes as MLB tries to increase the pace of play and shorten games in order to make the game more "watchable" and addresses concerns for the amount of time players are spent on the diamond.
The defensive shift has also been a concern to many as it pertains to fairness in the game. While proponents of the shift claim players should be able to hit to all sides of the field, there is an absurdity having nearly all players on one side of the field or effectively four outfielders.
However, in a statement from the MLB Player's Association, all player representatives voted "no" for these rule implementations.
These changes have been coming down the pipeline for years and they will not finally be implemented into the game starting next year.
More From SI's Inside The Cubs
- Could Mike Trout Request a Trade to the Chicago Cubs?
- Did David Robertson Net the Cubs a Future Star in Ben Brown?
- Hoerner is the Cubs Shortstop of the Future
- Cubs Could Give Canario a Shot in September
- Could the Cubs Land Trea Turner in the Offseason?
- Chicago Cubs Have a New Top Prospect in Their Rankings
- Is This Top Cubs Prospect Destined for the Mound at Wrigley?
- Steele Offers Glimpse Into Future of Cubs Rotation
- Do the Chicago Cubs Have the National League's Best Bullpen?
- Can Christopher Morel be a Long-Term Solution in Center Field?
Make sure to follow Inside the Cubs on Twitter!
