A New Era of Major League Baseball

Abstract

Major League Baseball (MLB) has largely been played the exact same way since the American League joined the National League in 1901. The pitcher stands 60 feet and 6 inches away from home plate and delivers the baseball for the batter to try to hit. Little about the game has been regulated except for the adjustment of the pitcher's mound height in 1968 and the recent addition of manager challenges. However, before the start of the 2023 MLB season, MLB commissioner Robert Manfred announced a new set of rules that perhaps change the game of baseball we once knew. The 2023 MLB season led to significantly more stolen bases for players with speed and potentially contributed to speed players changing their approach when at bat. These players with speed are drawing more walks, striking out less, and knocking in more RBIs. This is forcing MLB teams to reconsider how they decide to build their rosters.