1) PITCH TIMER

? 15 seconds with bases empty; 20 seconds with runners on

? Hitter gets 1 timeout per plate appearance; must be in batter¡¯s box with 8 seconds left

? Pitchers get two disengagements (pickoff attempts or step-offs) per batter; violations are a balk

? Limits on pickoff attempts led to 26% increase in stolen base attempts in Minors

? Pitch timer helped reduce game length by 25 minutes in Minors in ¡®22

2) SHIFT RESTRICTIONS

? Two infielders must be positioned on either side of 2B when pitch is released

? All four infielders must have both feet within the infield when pitcher is on rubber

? Shift restrictions increased batting average and decreased strikeouts in Minors while giving players more opportunity to show off their athleticism