New Minor League Baseball Pickoff Rule Finalized for Lower Levels in 2020
By Brady Williams
In an effort to encourage base stealing, Major League Baseball is setting new rules on Minor League pitchers. The rule will force pitchers to step off of the rubber to attempt a pickoff, according to Baseball America's Kyle Glaser.
In addition to giving base runners more time to take off, it will prevent lefty pitchers from keeping their back leg on the rubber to give a better angle.
The new minor league pickoff rule restriction has been finalized. It will be only at the Class A levels and below in 2020 that pitchers will have to completely disengage from the rubber. https://t.co/1dSuoqW0oh
— Kyle Glaser (@KyleAGlaser) February 28, 2020
This rule change was already adopted in the Independent Atlantic League, and stolen base attempts increased from 1.03 per game to 1.69. Success rate also rose between the first and second half of the season (the rule was implemented during the league's All-Star break). In the first half of the year, basestealers had a 75% success rate, a figure which rose to 81% after the implementation of the adjusted pickoff.
Depending on how these rule changes impact the game in its lower levels, it could eventually make its way up to the majors.
The new pickoff rule in the Atlantic League had the desired effect, so it is now coming to parts of the minor leagues.
— Baseball America (@BaseballAmerica) February 28, 2020
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The rule is also speculated to have been spurred on by the introduction of automated ball-strike calls in MiLB. Without the need for catchers to frame a pitch, they can respond for a pickoff much more quickly.
The rule is being implemented for teams at Class-A level and below for the 2020 season.