MLB’s New Rules: Are They Actually Changing the Game?

Baseball purists might not love it, but there’s no denying that MLB has been shaking things up lately. Over the past couple of seasons, the league has rolled out some of the biggest rule changes in its history—pitch clocks, bigger bases, and a ban on defensive shifts, all designed to make the game faster and more exciting.

But now that these rules have had some time to play out, are they really making a difference? Are we seeing more stolen bases? Has banning the shift actually helped hitters? And is the pitch clock making baseball more watchable, or just stressing out pitchers?

With the 2024 season in full swing, let’s dive into the numbers and see what’s really happening on the field.

One of the biggest rule changes was the introduction of the pitch clock, designed to cut down on dead time between pitches. And so far, it’s done exactly that. In 2023, the average game time dropped from 3 hours, 4 minutes to about 2 hours, 40 minutes, the shortest since the 1980s. Fans no longer have to sit through endless pitcher standoffs, and the pace of play feels noticeably snappier.

But has it changed the actual game? Some pitchers say they feel rushed, leading to more fatigue late in games. Interestingly, strikeout rates have remained steady, suggesting that hitters haven’t necessarily benefited. However, more balls are being put in play, which MLB hoped would happen. So while the pitch clock hasn’t overhauled strategy, it’s definitely made watching baseball a smoother experience.

For years, stolen bases were becoming a lost art, with teams prioritizing home runs over aggressive baserunning. That changed in 2023 when MLB increased base sizes from 15 to 18 inches and limited pickoff attempts to encourage more steals. And the results? A massive spike in stolen bases—up from 2,486 in 2022 to 3,503 in 2023, the most in over a decade.

The real game-changer isn’t just the number of steals but the success rate. In 2022, runners succeeded on 75% of stolen base attempts—by 2023, that jumped to nearly 80%. With a larger margin for error, even slower players are attempting steals, bringing an extra layer of excitement to the game.

For years, defenses used aggressive shifts to neutralize pull hitters, especially lefties. The shift ban, which requires two infielders on each side of second base, was meant to bring back traditional hitting. But has it worked?

So far, the results are mixed. League-wide batting averages only increased slightly, from .243 in 2022 to .249 in 2023. However, left-handed hitters—who were impacted the most by the shift—have seen bigger gains, with some pulling their batting averages up by 10-15 points. The real impact has been psychological—hitters aren’t overthinking their approach as much, knowing that a routine ground ball won’t turn into an automatic out.

MLB seems happy with these rule changes, but that doesn’t mean they’re done tweaking the game. Some are already speculating about automated strike zones ("robot umps"), potential reductions in bullpen usage, or even more ways to increase offense without relying on the home run.

For now, though, one thing is clear: baseball in 2024 looks and feels different from just a few years ago. The question is, will fans—and players—keep embracing these changes, or will tradition push back?

Baseball has always been slow to change, but the last few seasons have proven that shaking things up isn’t always a bad thing. Games are faster, stolen bases are making a comeback, and hitters aren’t losing as many hits to extreme defensive shifts. Not every rule change has been a game-changer, but together, they’ve made baseball feel a little more alive.

The real question is what’s next. Will MLB keep tweaking the game, or have they finally found the right balance? Some fans love the new pace, while others miss the old-school style of play. Either way, one thing’s for sure—baseball in 2024 doesn’t look like it did a few years ago. And depending on who you ask, that’s either the best thing to happen to the sport… or just another reason to argue over it.