All you need to know about the major rule change that the MLB has implemented about the base size for next season.
The Competition committee of Major League Baseball gave their stamp of approval to three rule changes that were proposed by Major League Baseball in September of 2022. Following rigorous testing at the level of the Minor Leagues over a period of several years and receiving feedback from player and umpire representatives from Major League Baseball, the regulations were enacted.
One of the modifications to the rules pertains to the size of the bases, which have historically been a square measuring 15 inches but will now be a square measuring 18 inches. The home plate position will not alter.
The major objective of the base size change is not to affect the success rate of stolen bases very significantly; rather, the change is intended to allow players more area to maneuver and make it easier to avoid collisions. This is especially important at first base, where fielders will have an additional three inches of advantage to keep themselves out of danger from baserunners when receiving throws.
Because of the adjustment, the distance between the first and second base and between the second base and third base will be shortened by 4 1/2 inches, which is anticipated to result in an increase in the number of runners who attempt to steal bases. The larger bases may also have the effect of lowering over-sliding, which is when a player loses contact with the bag after sliding through it. This could be another benefit of the larger bases.
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