NCAA Baseball Rules Established To Keep Up With The Majors

By Lily Belcher

TAMPA-USF outfielder Daniel Cantu steps into the box, quickly. There is less time to tighten his batting gloves, adjust his grip on the bat or take a deep breath before facing an opposing pitch. This season, he steps up to the plate and has to be ready to swing. If not, it’s an automatic strike.

The NCAA announced several rule changes in D1 baseball for the 2023 season that would match similar changes implemented in the Major Leagues this year.

At the Major League Baseball level, pitch clocks and pick off limitations were established to speed up the game and promote more offensive production to attract non-baseball fans. At the college level, changes, such as an action clock and fake step-off limitations, have been established to keep up with the professionals.

“I’d say challenge isn’t the right word. I would say it has been an adjustment for a little bit and then you get the hang of it. Adjusting your routines that you have played with for years has to change because of the speed of the game rules changes,” said Cantu.

The action clock is similar to the MLB pitch clock, but not as strict. In D1 baseball, a pitcher will have 20 seconds to deliver a pitch from the time he gets the ball, regardless of if there are runners on base, according to the NCAA. MLB has a shorter clock, allowing 15 seconds with the bases cleared or 18 seconds with runners on between pitches.

The 20 second clock impacts both the batter and pitcher. While the hurler has to pitch within the clock restraint, the batter has to have both feet in the batter’s box and be facing the pitcher with ten seconds left on the clock.

“They say that, if it’s a strike or a ball, basically, you have to stay in the batter’s box. So, they days of guys stepping out and going through all kinds of adjustments and doing their breathing…those days are gone,” explained Associate Head Coach Bo Durkac.

This is what has impacted Cantu’s pre-pitch routine.

“Before this year I had plenty of time to step in and have a little routine before even looking up and getting set on the pitcher. Now I have to step in and be ready to go as soon as I get in,” explained Cantu. “It definitely speeds your routine and focus. The pitcher is also working faster, so as soon as you step in the box, the pitcher is going to be working faster to deliver the ball.”

Cantu explained pre-pitch routines were a way for both batters and pitchers to clear their minds and get comfortable before the play. With the action clock, baseball players no longer have time to run through their routine if they need it.

However, USF pitcher Hunter Mink does not think the 20 second restraint has impacted the USF pitching staff. For Mink, the step-off limitations have been a bigger obstacle to adjust to.

“[I]t’s a simple rule, so if you miss the sign [from the coach] and need to step off you know that is your one step off the next time you have to throw the ball in attempt to pick the runner off,” explained the right-hander.

The step-off limitation rule dictates a pitcher is only allowed one fake throw or step-off the mound per batter. Doing so resets the 20-second action clock. However, if the pitcher steps-off more than once, the batter is awarded a ball. Unlike MLB, collegiate athletes can make an unlimited number of pick-off attempts, as long as they actually throw the ball.

To combat the quicker pace of at-bats, NCAA teams, like USF, have switched to a digital play calling device, rather than manual signs given from the dugout. The devices directly communicate a play from the coaches and eliminate the need for complex signs.

The common assumption was that the pitch clock would benefit the pitcher, who is responsible for controlling the pace of the game, according to Durkac. However, he said he had noticed more offensive production in shorter games.

Through the first 34 games of the 2023 season, USF has posted a team batting average of .279. Compared to 2021 and 2022, this season’s batting average is only around .008 higher, a relatively small decrease. Total runs and homeruns have stayed about the same, but these numbers may not completely display the effects of the new rules. On the pitching side, USF’s pitchers have given up more walks and earned runs on average per game.

“Maybe [pitchers are] more sped up mentally and they’re losing their feel for where the ball goes. But the offensive numbers this year across college baseball seem to be very high compared to years past,” said Durkac. “So, who knows? That may be due to bad pitching, or the sped-up nature of the game is making pitchers work uncomfortably fast and is taking away from whatever abilities they have.”

Still, Mink and Cantu have been able to adjust to the new rules with the help of USF’s coaching staff.

“Our coaches have done a great job helping our team adjust to the rules. In fall inter squads and spring practice they would always keep a pitch clock on us and regarding the pick off limitations they would always make us aware when we were close to violations and or violating the rule to engrave it into our habits on the mound,” explained Mink.

Cantu explained the coaches have been able to offer explanations on the new rules and advice on how to alter their routines and mental outlook on a quicker at bat.

“I think these changes will help prepare me for the minor leagues/ major leagues,” said Cantu. “It won’t be new to me when I get there, I will already have a year or two of experience with the new rule changes before going to the next level, which helps adjusting.”