Report: MLB to announce rule changes to speed up game Friday

Commissioner Rob Manfred is wasting no time putting his stamp on the game. 

Earlier this month, it was reported that Major League Baseball and the Players Association were making progress on several minor tweaks to help speed up the pace of play ahead of this season. 

Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reported Thursday the three bigger changes expected to be announced on Friday: 

1. Managers must challenge replays from the dugout, rather than on the field. 

2. Batters must keep one foot in the box unless an established exception occurs (foul balls, foul tips, wild pitches or umpire granting timeout). 

3. Play to resume promptly once broadcast returns from commercial break. 

Rosenthal added that another rule change involving timed pitching is coming, though violations will be minimal fines as opposed to issuing balls and strikes. 

Jon Morosi of FOX Sports reported last week that both sides appear comfortable with resuming play as soon as the broadcast returns from commercial break and that the language needed to be tightened regarding batters remaining in the box, in order to have stricter enforcement.