Explaining the MLB Pace-of-Play and More Rule Changes for 2023 Season

Anyone who watched spring training baseball this year no doubt noticed a prominently featured clock behind home plate, and that new pitch clock will be part of the 2023 regular season as part of the league's ongoing efforts to speed up the pace of play.

That's not the only change coming to the 2023 MLB season, with a ban on infield shifting and larger bases among the other significant rule tweaks.

Ahead, we've provided a quick rundown of everything you need to know about baseball's newest rules.

Opening Day is almost here!

The Pitch Clock

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LAKELAND, FL - MARCH 10: A detailed view of the pitch clock behind home plate during the Spring Training game between the New York Yankees and the Detroit Tigers at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium on March 10, 2023 in Lakeland, Florida. The Yankees defeated the Tigers 4-3. (Photo by Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

The idea of a pitch clock has been tested in the minor leagues in recent seasons, and now it's coming to Major League Baseball.

Here are the quick-hit bullet points:

• There will be a 30-second timer between batters before the next hitter needs to be in the batter's box and ready for a pitch.
• There will be a 15-second time between pitches with the bases empty and a 20-second time between pitches with a runner on base.
• Pitchers must start their delivery before the pitch time expires. Batters must be in the batter's box and ready before the eight-second mark on the pitch clock. 
• If a pitcher violates the pitch-clock rules it's a ball. If a batter violates the pitch-clock rules it's a strike.

"The average spring training game time has fallen from three hours, one minute to two hours, 36 minutes," according to a memo from Major League Baseball (via Jeff Passan of ESPN).

There was some confusion early in spring training, as was to be expected, but that same memo also noted that violations are down from 2.03 per game during the first week of spring training to 1.03 per game this week.

The league recently made some tweaks to their rules to clarify things, but the bullet points ahead will remain the same and be a major part of speeding things up during the 2023 season.

No More Shift

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DENVER, CO - AUGUST 05: The Colorado Rockies infield employ the infield shift as they defend against the Seattle Mariners during interleague play at Coors Field on August 5, 2015 in Denver, Colorado. The Rockies defeated the Mariners 7-5 in 11 innings. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

The other major rule change coming to an MLB game near you is a banning of the infield shift, which has played a major role in batting averages dropping around the league and seemingly even more three-true-outcome performers up and down lineups.

The shift ban was first announced back in September, and it has been in effect throughout spring training.

Here are the notable takeaways, courtesy of MLB.com:

• Defensive teams will be required to have a minimum of four players on the infield, with at least two infielders completely on either side of second base.
• The four infielders must be within the boundary of the infield when the pitcher is on the rubber.
• If the infielders are not aligned properly at the time of the pitch, the offense can choose an automatic ball or the result of the play.

B/R's Zach Rymer wrote an article in January on the players who are most likely to be impacted by the shift ban that's worth a read for further context.

Other Notable Rule Changes

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DUNEDIN, FL - FEBRUARY 15: A detail shot of the new larger bases during the On-Field Rules Demonstration at TD Ballpark on Wednesday, February 15, 2023 in Dunedin, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

While the pitch clock and the shift ban are the two biggest rule changes going into effect this year, there are a few other new things to know before the 2023 season begins.

• The size of the bases at first base, second base and third base has increased from 15 square inches to 18 square inches. That has shortened the distance from first to second and second to third by 4.5 inches, and the hope is that the larger bases will create more infield hits, more stolen bases and more stolen base attempts in general while also adding to player safety.
• Pitchers are now only allowed two "disengagements" per plate appearance, with pickoff attempts, fake pickoffs and simply stepping off the rubber all falling under that umbrella. After the second attempt, the pitcher will be called with a balk unless he successfully records an out on the bases.
• The rules on when a position player is allowed to pitch have been tweaked. In the past, any time a team was up or down by six runs they could turn to a position player on the mound. Now it is only allowed when their team is leading by 10-plus runs in the ninth inning, is down by eight runs at any point, or in extra innings.

That's a quick rundown of all the rule changes that you will see when the 2023 MLB season kicks off next week.