Major League Baseball continues to use the Atlantic League as their testing grounds for new rules and today there were four more changes announced.
All four of the following will be implemented for the second half of the season:
- Pitcher is required to step off rubber to attempt a pickoff
- One foul bunt is permitted with two strikes
- Batters can try to “steal” first base on any pitch not caught in flight (wild pitch/passed ball in any situation)
- Check swing rule will be made more batter-friendly
The announced changes come the day after the strike zone for the Atlantic League All-Star game was called by an automated system. Trackman system concludes whether the pitch is a ball or strike and then relays it to bluetooth earpiece being warn by the umpire. The umpire does have the authority to change the call.
MLB and the Atlantic League signed a three-year deal back in February that allows the majors to use the Independent League as their guinea pig as commissioner Rob Manfred continues to tinker with the game.
