New rules won't be used in WBC

Major League Baseball's new pitch clock, limits on shifts and larger bases will not be used during the World Baseball Classic.

The three innovations will be debuted during the spring training exhibition season that starts Feb. 24. The 20-team national team tournament runs from March 8-21, and players will return to their clubs for more exhibition games with the new rules ahead of Opening Day on March 30.

“There's going to be an adjustment and learning curve to those, so for the actual quality of baseball in the WBC, it's probably better that they didn't spring that on us in important games,” St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Paul Goldschmidt said Tuesday.

This will be the fifth edition of the WBC following victories by Japan in 2006 and 2009, the Dominican Republic in 2013 and the U.S. in 2017. A scheduled 2021 tournament was called off because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Pitch limits again will be used. A pitcher is limited to 65 pitches during a firstround game, 80 in a quarterfinal and 95 in the championship round, though a limit can be exceeded to finish a plate appearance. A pitcher may not pitch in games on three consecutive days. There must be one day off after throwing 30 or more pitches and two days off after throwing 50 or more pitches.

DHs, the three-batter minimum and video review will be used, but the limit on mound visits will not.

Thirty-man rosters were due from teams Tuesday and will be announced Thursday. Each team must include at least 14 pitchers and two catchers, including 10 pitchers eligible to pitch in consecutive rounds.

• Amanda Kamekona, a former star softball player at UCLA, has been hired as a hitting instructor for the Cleveland Guardians. She's the first on-field coach in team history.

Kamekona will be based at the team's year-round complex in Goodyear, Arizona, where she'll work with the team's developmental players.

The 36-year-old's hiring continues a trend throughout MLB of teams adding female coaches to their staffs. The Guardians have had women coach mental skills, but have never previously had a female instructor working with players on the field.

Kamekona played at Cal State Fullerton before transferring to UCLA in 2008. She was twice named a thirdteam All-American selection while helping the Bruins post a 96-20 record in two seasons. She still holds the school record with eight RBIs in one game.