A few more changes will be implemented to help quicken the pace of play. One of the most notable is that each team's allotted mound visits will be decreased from five to four per game. A fifth visit will be awarded in the ninth inning if the defensive team has none remaining at the end of the eighth.
Also, if a new pitcher enters the warning track with less than two minutes remaining on the inning break clock, the clock will reset to two minutes instead of two minutes and 15 seconds.
Pitchers who warm up for an inning must also face at least one batter while still complying with the three-batter-minimum rule. From MLB.com:
"MLB found 24 instances in 2023 of a pitcher warming up between innings and getting replaced before throwing a pitch, adding approximately three minutes of dead time per event."
In other words, a pitcher who warms up between innings must take the field.
Lastly, umpires have been instructed to emphasize an existing rule that limits the obstruction of the runner's path between bases. From MLB.com:
"[MLB's guidance] emphasizes the existing rule and asks umpires to call obstruction if they determine a fielder has positioned himself to impede or hinder a runner's path to the base before receiving the ball. The play remains non-reviewable, and the point of emphasis only applies to the bases, not home plate."
While the path-obstruction rule isn't new and isn't designed to quicken the pace of play, it should help make for cleaner plays and a more enjoyable experience for MLB fans.
