The World Baseball Classic will stay true to its name and not implement the new rules Major League Baseball will introduce to the 2023 season.
It’s a bit of a relief overall, but there are downsides to it.
“I think it might have helped us be ready for regular season,” Team USA’s first baseman Paul Goldschmidt told the media on Tuesday. “I think there’s going to be an adjustment and learning curve to those. So for the actual quality of baseball in WBC, it’s probably better that they didn’t spring that on us in important games.”
Paul Goldschmidt couldn't wait to get back. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/lmeYc4XSH7
— World Baseball Classic (@WBCBaseball) February 8, 2023
The new MLB rules for 2023 include a pitch timer, defensive shift restrictions, and bigger bases.
Pitchers will have to endure a 30-second pitch timer between batters and 15 seconds between pitches in an effort to create a quicker pace of play. These rules already were tested at the Triple-A level, and despite the adjustments, it appeared to be a seamless transition.
However, expect some violations at the beginning.
If that’s the case, those should diminish over the next month or so.
*fingers crossed*
“We’re going to need a learning curve with those and we won’t get it for a few weeks, but we’ll work on it in spring training and other times,” Goldschmidt added.
Six-time Platinum Glove Award-winning third baseman Nolan Arenado, who also will be representing Team USA in the WBC (and is a teammate of Goldschmidt on the St. Louis Cardinals), said he’s glad the tournament is not instituting the new rules.
“Goldy kind of hit it,” Arenado said Tuesday. “Treat it like any other season. This is the right thing to do. There’s no need to, like, throw it onto us.”
He did, however, appear to be embracing them for 2023.
“I think it definitely should be for the regular season and then maybe the next WBC when everyone’s kind of used to it already, you do it,” said Arenado.
About Jessica Kleinschmidt
Jess is a baseball fan with Reno, Nev. roots residing in the Bay Area. She is the host of "Short and to the Point" and is also a broadcaster with the Oakland A's Radio Network. She previously worked for MLB.com and NBC Sports Bay Area.