Spring training gives Royals crack at new MLB rules: Pitch clock, bigger bases and more

The Kansas City Royals had their first all-team workout on Monday, when many players officially kicked off their spring training season.

For many of the Royals, spring training provides the opportunity to interact with MLB’s recently integrated rule changes for the 2023 season in a game environment. Changes include the increased base size, limits on defensive shifts and a new pitch clock system meant to speed up the pace of play.

The pitch clock will be a major factor for all players on the diamond, putting pressure on both the batter and pitcher to be ready shortly after each ball is returned to the mound.

With bases empty, the pitcher has 15 seconds to begin the pitching motion after the ball is returned — 20 if there are runners on. By the time the clock reads 8 seconds, the batter must be “in the batter’s box and alert to the pitcher,” according to MLB.

“It changes a lot because when you foul a ball out you want to take your time, but you gotta be back in the box,” shortstop Tyler Tolbert said. “You only get like 15 seconds between each pitch and that’s not enough time to get our thoughts together.”

Under the newly implemented rules, a violation of the time requirements by the pitcher results in an automatic ball added to the count, while a violation of the requirements by the batter results in a called strike.

While many Royals players will use these spring training weeks as an opportunity to learn the new rules, players like Tolbert have already grown familiar with them through their time in the minor league system, where all of the rule changes going into effect this year were tuned and tested to eventually find a home in the MLB rulebook.

Royals owner John Sherman expressed excitement about the new rules and said that it would improve the fan experience.

“I’m positive about it,” Sherman said. “The pitch clock seems to be the most popular one, … and I think that’ll be good for the fans, that it will be better for the game.”

Other rule changes include the larger bases, which have been increased in size by 3 inches, making them 18 inches across. MLB says that the increased size, although moderately effective at increasing the steal success rate, is primarily meant to reduce collisions and “give players more room to operate.”

“I think the bases are great,” pitcher Brooks Kriske said. “I played with them in Triple-A. I don’t know how much it will affect baserunning, but they feel safer.”

The shift restrictions will also find their way into MLB playbooks across the board as teams consider the implications for their defenders and batters. For new manager Matt Quatraro, the new limits create opportunities for his club.

“I think everyone’s going to benefit from it,” Quatraro said. “Hopefully it promotes more offense and from the other side of it, it will promote more athleticism, which I think will suit us well.”.

With several elements of the game undergoing major changes, Quatraro anticipates a period of adjustment.

“I think it’s going to be chaos at the beginning,” Quatraro said.

Per MLB, umpires are directed to call violations “with no grace period” starting right away in spring training, as clubs are expected to use the time to get used to the different pace of play.

Quatraro said that while there hasn’t yet been a team-wide discussion regarding the changes, he has seen plenty of conversations between the veterans and those who have spent time in the minor leagues over the past couple of years.

The Royals will get their first game experience with the new-look rulebook on Friday against their spring training neighbors: the Texas Rangers.

This story was originally published February 21, 2023 at 12:04 PM with the headline "Spring training gives Royals crack at new MLB rules: Pitch clock, bigger bases and more."