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MiLB adopts 'automatic runner' rule for extra innings at all levels

Mike Stobe / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Everyone's favorite controversial extra-inning rule is coming to the minors.

Minor League Baseball announced multiple rule changes on Wednesday designed to speed up the game at all levels below the big leagues. The most notable change is that all tiers of MiLB will begin using the international extra-inning rules and place a runner at second.

Beginning in the 10th inning of all minor-league contests, the batting team will place a runner at second base. That runner will be the player who is batting ahead of the hitter scheduled to lead off the inning.

The "automatic runner" rule has been used in extra innings during international baseball tournaments for several years, and was prominently featured during the 2017 World Baseball Classic. However, its potential use in both the minors and MLB has come under criticism from some corners of the baseball world for disrupting the natural flow of a game.

MLB began testing these rules in the two lowest levels of the affiliated minors, the Gulf Coast League and Arizona League, last summer. A proposal from the league to implement the new rules during this year's spring training was reportedly rejected by the MLB Players Association last month.

The longest game in professional baseball history was played in the affiliated minors, a 33-inning contest between the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox and Rochester Red Wings that began on April 18, 1981 and - after being suspended following the 32nd - wasn't completed until June 23 of that year. It now appears that record will stand the test of time, at least in the minor leagues.

Other pace-of-play rules being implemented by MiLB for the coming season include a 15-second pitch clock in Double-A and Triple-A, and limitations on mound visits that will vary depending on the minor-league level, mimicking MLB's recent rule changes.

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