Manfred considering changes to baseball as HR surge continues

Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred is going back to the drawing board with the baseballs being used in games.

"We have reconvened the group of scientists that worked with us before (on the initial study)," he said, according to Maury Brown of Forbes. "We've asked them to take a fresh look at everything that is occurring with the baseball. We expect to get this new report shortly after the World Series."

The league experienced another surge in home runs this year, as Baltimore Orioles shortstop Jonathan Villar hit the MLB-record 6,106th long ball of the season on Sept. 11. Entering Wednesday's action, that number had ballooned to 6,590.

After only 11 teams hit 200 home runs in 2018, a whopping 24 have reached the mark this season. The 2018 New York Yankees set what was a single-season record when they combined for 268 home runs; four teams have exceeded that total this season.

While Manfred isn't ready to commit to specific alterations to the ball, the league is looking into it.

"The only thing I'm prepared to say at this point and time is I do think that we need to see if we can make some changes that gives us a more predictable, consistent performance from the baseball," he said.

Manfred added that any changes can be made without consulting the players.