Starting over with changes
NEW YORK — They’ve waited for the Wahoos, stood by for the Sod Poodles, bided their time for the Biscuits or Trash Pandas.
After more than a year of uncertainty and empty ballparks, fans in minor league cities are finally getting baseball back.
“Small town baseball, it’s the fabric of the United States,” Brooklyn Cyclones manager Ed Blankmeyer said. “It’s a culture.”
Minor league teams across the country are set to open their seasons Tuesday, returning baseball to communities denied the old national pastime during the coronavirus pandemic. Capacities will differ by jurisdiction, but for most, it will be the first opportunity to see pro players in person since the entire 2020 season was canceled.
Of course, much has changed since the last affiliated games were played in 2019. There are fewer teams and leagues and Major League Baseball has introduced plans to use the minors as a testing ground for new rules that could improve pace of play or reduce player injuries.
But for those wondering what will be different, here’s a primer:
Who goes where?
The biggest change, of course, is that MLB contracted the minors from 160 affiliates to 120. Commissioner Rob Manfred’s office assumed full control of the minors after deciding this offseason not to renew its agreement with the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues, the body that operated minor league ball.
That gave MLB latitude to reshape the minors, and it acted fast. The short-season leagues were eliminated, as were several full-season affiliates, to take 40 clubs out of the equation.
What remains are four levels — Triple-A, Double-A, High-A and Low-A — each with regional names. Leagues with over 100 years of history, including the International League (started in 1884), Texas League (1902) and Florida State League (1919), are no more.
Three previously independent franchises — the St. Paul Saints, Somerset Patriots and Sugar Land Skeeters — were brought into affiliated ball, meaning 43 clubs lost their connection to the pro ranks.
On the field
The minors will be a testing ground for several rules experiments MLB is considering, including an automated strike zone, restrictions on defensive positioning and larger bases.
An automatic ball-strike system will be used at some Low-A Southeast League games, the highest level yet for the robo zone that’s already been tested in the independent Atlantic League and the Arizona Fall League.
At Double-A, infielders will have to keep both feet in the infield at the start of every play, although there won’t yet be a ban on shifting three or more infielders to either side of second base.
The bases at Triple-A will be expanded from 15 by 15 inches to 18 by 18, which MLB hopes will improve player safety and modestly increase stolen bases and infield hits.
The most impactful change could come at the lower levels, where MLB will limit pitchers’ ability to hold baserunners. At High-A, pitchers will be required to fully disengage from the rubber prior to throwing to a base, under penalty of a balk. In Low-A, pitchers only get two pickoff attempts per plate appearance.
The Low-A West league will also adopt on-field timers.
On the roster
At least 1,000 roster spots were eliminated when MLB contracted 40 clubs, but those that remain are at least getting a pay raise. MLB decided before the pandemic to boost minor league wages between 38% and 72%.