KC Royals manager Mike Matheny embraces significant rule changes coming to MLB in 2023

Royals fans coming to Kauffman Stadium or watching games on television next season will notice some big changes.

Major League Baseball on Friday announced all games in 2023 will have a pitch clock, bigger bases and limits on defensive shifts.

“Our guiding star in thinking about changes to the game has always been our fans,” MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said, per the league’s website. “‘What do our fans want to see on the field?’ We’ve conducted thorough and ongoing research with our fans, and certain things are really clear. No. 1, fans want games with better pace. Two, fans want more action, more balls in play. And three, fans want to see more of the athleticism of our great players.

“The rule changes we’re announcing today have been thoroughly tested and refined for years in the Minor Leagues. Each of these rules have been tested in approximately 8,000 Minor League games dating back to last season, which is the equivalent of 3 1/2 complete Major League seasons.”

Here’s more on the rule changes, and what Royals manager Mike Matheny had to say about them.

Pitch clock

There will be a 15-second timer between pitches with the bases empty. With runners on, that will increase to 20 seconds. Between batters, there will be a 30-second timer.

As ESPN noted, a pitch clock in the minor leagues yielded immediate results this year with the average game time of 2 hours, 39 minutes in the first 132 games.

“We’re gonna have to have clocks in the bullpens,” Matheny said. “It might not be the entire bullpen. But they need to get used to what that rhythm looks like for the major-league guys. The minor-league guys understand it. I’m not against this deal because it’s going to help.”

Defensive shifts

Here’s the breakdown of what’s changing from MLB’s website.

• All four infielders must stand in the dirt when the pitcher is on the rubber.

• Teams are not allowed to reposition infielders depending on who is at bat.

• The penalty for a defensive team not following the rules: It can choose either an automatic ball or the result of the play.

• Outfielders can be positioned in the infield or shallow outfield grass “in certain situations.” A team can use four outfielders at any time in a game.

“I’ve never liked the shift. Never,” Matheny said. “There are some left-handers in the league that just became more valuable.”

The bases

The size of the bases will increase from 15 inches square to 18 inches. However, the size of home plate will not change.

Major League Baseball believes the larger bases will help with player safety and encourage “more stolen-base attempts,” as its website noted.

There will be a 4 1/2-inch reduction between first and second base and between second base and third base.

“The bigger base for a speedy team, especially we’re in this park that’s us, I like that,” Matheny said. “We like to steal bases and be more incentivized to lay a bunt down, be more incentivized to put a ball and try to leg it out. You’re gonna see infield hits go up. There’s safety, too. All of those are positives.”