Think about you’re a better on the point of face the opponent’s No. 9 hitter with two outs within the ninth inning of a one-run recreation, and rapidly, Juan Soto steps as much as the plate.
Or Aaron Decide. Or Shohei Ohtani. Or Francisco Lindor. Or another elite hitter who shouldn’t be taking an at-bat within the nine-hole.
That’s what the so-called “Golden At-Bat” rule would enable: one probability for groups to ship their greatest hitters to the plate within the largest second of a recreation, regardless of who was truly due up.
A couple of weeks in the past, commissioner Rob Manfred instructed The Varsity Podcast with John Ourand that this concept — that is nothing greater than a free idea at this level — gained “a little buzz” at a latest homeowners’ assembly. The Athletic’s Jayson Stark then detailed what such a rule may appear to be and the way it might be carried out whereas sharing ideas from gamers and entrance workplace personnel from across the league.
Whereas Stark outlined a couple of methods the rule might be written up, the overall aim can be to place the most effective hitters on the plate when the sport is on the road. When you’ll usually see the NBA’s Steph Curry take the final shot or the NFL’s Patrick Mahomes get an opportunity to drive downfield in an in depth contest, the Sotos, Judges, Ohtanis and Lindors of the world are sometimes caught on the bench when their crew makes the final out of a recreation.
As Stark identified, not everybody can be in favor of such a tradition-breaking rule, and relievers will surely face an added burden from this potential try to manufacture memorable moments. Nonetheless, MLB has adopted new, game-changing guidelines and modifications lately, together with the pitch clock, ghost runners in additional innings, and greater bases. The league has additionally been experimenting with the Automated Ball-Strike System (ABS), or robotic umps, as some wish to say.
For now, the Golden At-Bat is “in the conversation-only stage,” Manfred mentioned. So nothing is imminent, particularly for video games that rely. Nonetheless, with the commissioner discussing the thought publicly, don’t be stunned if you happen to hear extra about it transferring ahead.
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YANKEES’ PROSPECT DROPS IN RANKINGS
Baseball America launched its new top-10 rankings for the Yankees’ farm system on Monday, and Spencer Jones got here in at No. 6.
The publication had Jones ranked second this time final yr. The 23-year-old middle fielder went on to hit .259/.336/.452 with 30 doubles, 17 dwelling runs, 78 RBI and 25 stolen bases whereas spending all the 2024 season at Double-A Somerset. Whereas Jones demonstrated a mix of pace and energy for the second consecutive yr, the 2022 first-round select of Vanderbilt additionally struck out 36.8% of the time.
Baseball America’s full top-10 Yankees prospects record for 2025 went like this: 1. Jasson Domínguez, 2. George Lombard Jr., 3. Roderick Arias, 4. Ben Hess, 5. Bryce Cunningham, 6. Spencer Jones, 7. Chase Hampton, 8. Will Warren, 9. Henry Lalane, 10. Rafael Flores.
AWAITING ANOTHER JAPANESE STAR
Whereas MLB golf equipment are nonetheless ready for Roki Sasaki to be posted this offseason, groups can begin fascinated by how one other Japanese star will match their plans after this coming season.
Thought it’s been anticipated for a while, Munetaka Murakami reiterated that the 2025 season might be his final in Japan, in keeping with Yakyu Cosmopolitan. Murakami has been a star for the Yakult Swallows for the previous seven seasons, slugging 241 dwelling runs whereas slashing .272/.395/.543.
Primarily a 3rd baseman in Japan, the expectation is that Murakami would play first or DH within the majors. In 2023, Yakyu Cosmopolitan reported that Murakami has curiosity within the Yankees, although he prefers the West Coast.
