Extra innings to start with runner at 2nd in the minor leagues
Extra innings throughout the minor leagues will start with a runner at second base.
In addition, the pitch clock that began at Triple-A and Double-A in 2015 will be lowered from 20 seconds to 15 when there are no runners on base, the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues said Wednesday. The timer will remain at 20 seconds with runners on.
“We believe these changes to extra innings will enhance the fans’ enjoyment of the game and will become something that the fans will look forward to on nights where the game is tied late in the contest,” NAPBL President Pat O’Conner said in a statement.
“Player safety has been an area of growing concern for our partners at the Major League Baseball level, and the impact that lengthy extra innings games has on pitchers, position players and an entire organization was something that needed to be addressed.”
The runner at second will be the batter in the order prior to that inning’s leadoff hitter, and players removed from the game will be ineligible to return. A runner who starts an extra inning at second shall be counted as reaching on an error for purposes of determining earned runs, but no errors shall be charged.
New limits on mound visits without pitching changes also will be added, the minorleague governing body said. The maximum will be six by managers, coaches or players at Triple-A, eight at Double-A and 10 at full-season Class A. There will not be any limits at short-season Class A or rookie leagues.
Injury report: Milwaukee catcher Stephen Vogt will not be ready for the season opener in San Diego on March 29 because of a shoulder strain, manager Craig Counsell said. ... Miami third baseman Martin Prado will begin the season on the disabled list while he recovers from right knee surgery, the team said . ... Tampa Bay right-hander Jose DeLeon had surgery to repair his torn ulnar collateral ligament repaired and will miss the season, the team said . ... Arizona right-hander Zack Greinke’s start against the Reds was cut short after one inning because of right groin tightness.
Schwarber signs: Outfielder Kyle Schwarber has a $604,500 salary in the major leagues as part of the one-year contract the Cubs announced last weekend.
His salary would drop to $271,150 while in the minor leagues as part of the contract.
He missed most of the 2016 season after tearing his left anterior cruciate ligament but returned for the World Series and helped the Cubs win their first title since 1908.
Dodgers renew Bellinger, Seager: The Dodgers renewed the contracts of 2017 NL Rookie of the Year Cody Bellinger for $585,000 and of 2016 NL Rookie of the Year Corey Seager for $605,000.
Bellinger made his bigleague debut April 25 and hit .267 with an NL rookie-record 39 homers and a team-high 97 RBIs. He will not be eligible for salary arbitration until after the 2019 season. Seager’s contract also was renewed by the Dodgers last year, when the shortstop earned $575,000. He hit .295 with 22 homers and 77 RBIs. He will be eligible for arbitration next winter.
Briefly: Left-hander Jairo Labourt, designated for assignment Monday when Oakland signed catcher Jonathan Lucroy, was released. The A's had claimed Labourt on waivers from the Reds on March 4. ... Right-hander Dylan Bundy has agreed to a $1.64 million, one-year contract with Baltimore, the same salary as last year. Bundy went 13-9 with a 4.24 ERA in 2017. The Orioles also optioned outfielder Joey Rickard to Triple-A Norfolk and reassigned infielder Ruben Tejada to their minorleague camp.