Watch CBS News

Independent Atlantic League To Experiment With 'Stealing' First Base This Season

LANCASTER, Pa. (CBS/AP) — After becoming the first American professional baseball league to introduce "robot umpires" Wednesday night, the independent Atlantic League will introduce another first this season. The league will experiment with allowing batters to "steal" first base.

The Atlantic League on Wednesday announced four more changes for the second half of its season. Most notably, a batter may run to first and try to beat the throw after any pitch not caught in flight. The batter would be out if he is beaten by the throw or is tagged before touching first.

In addition, a pitcher will be required to step off the rubber for pickoff attempts, a batter will be allowed one foul, two-strike bunt before a strikeout is called and plate umpires will define check swings more favorably for a batter.

The league has been experimenting all season with 18-inch bases, which shorten the distance between home and first by 3 inches.

(©Copyright 2019 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.