MLB competition committee tinkering with pitch time, base paths - ESPN

Major League Baseball's competition committee approved several rule changes for the 2024 season, including subtracting two seconds from the pitch timer with men on base — from 20 to 18 seconds — while also widening the runner's lane to first.

Previously, batters had to essentially run on the dirt, between the foul line and 3-foot line) or be in risk of being called out for interference. Now, that lane will extend to the cut of the infield grass. The distance between the foul line and the infield grass will be between 18 and 24 inches in all parks, with some limited grace periods granted by MLB due to difficulty in modifying the field.

The rest of the changes for 2024 relate to the pace of the game as the league tries to trim time on the margins. MLB says the average nine-inning game increased by seven minutes from April to September last year, the first season with a pitch clock.

• With men on base, pitchers will have 18 seconds instead of 20 to begin their motion to home. However, there won't be any changes to the clock when the bases are empty. Hurlers will still have 15 seconds to begin their delivery in those situations. According to the league, pitchers began their deliveries with an average of 7.3 seconds remaining on the 20-second timer in 2023.

• Barring an injury, a pitcher who begins to warm up at the start of an inning will now be required to face at least one batter. Previously, they could be replaced during or after warmups. The league says there were 24 instances last season where the pitcher that warmed up between innings was replaced before throwing a pitch — adding approximately three minutes of dead time.

• Mound visits will be reduced from five to four per game as the league says they rank among fans'