The Professional Baseball League of the Dominican Republic unanimously approved new rules for the upcoming 2023-2024 winter baseball season, with the intention of reducing game time and providing more dynamism to the game.
The new provisions include the increase in the size of the bases, the implementation of the ghost runner in the tenth inning (extra innings) and the prohibition of special formations, which is known as the defensive shift.
The information was provided by Vitelio Mejía, president of Lidom, while participating in Listín Diario’s Café Deportivo, with sports editor Héctor J. Cruz and journalist Marcos Nivar.
Mejía was accompanied by Valentín Contreras, operational director of Lidom, Satosky Terrero, press director and Shantal Disla, brand director.
“These new rules come with the intention of speeding up the game and giving it more dynamism. These measures and others that are being discussed in a work committee have more to do with a commercial issue in trying to adjust the time of the broadcasts of the matches,” Vitelio said.
15 to 18 inches
The League approved the expansion of the size of the bases, with the purpose of increasing the safety of the runners and fielders, and also reducing the distance between the bases. The new bases will now be 18 inches, instead of 15 inches.
ghost runner
In relation to the “ghost runner”, which was established in the winter league in the 2022-2023 season starting from the 12th inning (and from the 10th inning for doubleheaders), now it will be the same as in Major League Baseball, beginning in the 10th inning in the regular season and Round Robin stages, except for the final series.
Defensive Shifts
In addition, the league prohibited special formations or defensive shifts. The new rule will require that there be two infielders on each side of second base and within the infield at all times, including when the pitcher delivers to home plate.
Infielders may not switch sides during an inning; however, an outfielder may come to play the infield without this being a violation of this rule.
Not afraid of changes
Mejía assured that the league has always been open to establishing measures that are consistent with what is established in Major League Baseball and that benefit the business as such.
“You cannot be afraid of changes. By the month of July or August, we must already make a decision regarding the pitch clock and try to be the third baseball league in the world with this reality,” said Mejía.
Another of the measures that Lidom will study is related to the limitation on the pitchers’ throws to the bases.
Shantal Disla, brand director for the Dominican baseball league, assured that the new rules of the game that will take effect next season can be used commercially.
“This also provides the league with new commercial opportunities. In the Major Leagues they are looking at how even the clock can be a commercial property; the broadcast time of the games will probably be reduced, but it will open the way for more commercial elements,” Disla said.
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Under study
pitch clock
Mejía said that a special commission is studying the implementation of the pitch clock, as occurs in Major League Baseball, a resource used to reduce game time.
International Consultation
Lidom will observe the implementation of such measures in the Major Leagues and will open a consultation session with Lidom’s international umpire supervisor, Jorge Bauzá, on any possible necessary adjustments for the implementation of the rule.