MLB's 2024 Rule Changes: Pitch Clock, Runner's Lane, and More
Major League Baseball (MLB) has announced several rule changes for the 2024 season, including an 18-second pitch clock with runners on base, a wider runner's lane between home and first base, and one fewer mound visit per team per game. The pitch clock aims to reduce the average game time, which increased by over seven minutes in 2023. The runner's lane change allows runners to take a more direct route to first base, avoiding interference calls. Catchers can now call for a mound visit to avoid a clock violation without physically going to the mound. Other pace-of-game tweaks include reducing warm-up time for relievers, starting the pitch clock after fielders return to their positions, and requiring pitchers who warm up at the start of an inning to face at least one hitter. Some proposed changes, such as restarting the pitch clock after a batter calls timeout, have been withdrawn, while others, like tightening language around fielders blocking bases, are still under discussion. These changes will be implemented in the 2024 season, with the potential to shorten the average game time by about five minutes.
