Bob Nightengale @BNightengale
In AAA: There will be larger bases, designed to reduce injuries and also create more stolen bases with shorter distance between bases.
In AA: Players must have a minimum of four players on the infield with two feet completely in front of the outer boundary of the infield dirt.
In Double-A, a new rule will require that four infielders be positioned on the infield dirt (or on the infield grass) at all times, effectively eliminating the increasingly common extreme shifts that see three infielders on one side of second base, with one of those usually playing in the shallow outfield, playing the percentages that the hitter will line out or ground out to that spot in the outfield and taking away would-be base hits. The league also suggested the possibility that the second half of the season will require two infielders to be on either side of second base, which would effectively ban shifts altogether.
In Class A: Pitchers will be required to step off the rubber before throwing to any base.
In Low Class A: Pitchers will be limited to a total of two “step offs” or “pickoffs” per plate appearance while there is at least one runner on base.
And in the Low A-Ball Southeast league: There will be an automatic strikezone.