Minnesota Twins prospect Kyle DeBarge walks a few steps to a worn-out patch of grass while playing center field during a recent Arizona Fall League game at Salt River Fields, glancing up at a small video board that lets him know if he’s in the right spot.
asserted
he → walk → spot
A few steps to his left, right, front or back and a big red “X” appears on the video board above home plate.
asserted
X → appear → plate
If he stays on that little island of dirt in a sea of grass, a big ‘O’ appears and the video board is green.
asserted
board → stay → grass
The idea is that making outfielders play straight up — instead of adjusting for individual hitters’ tendencies — will lead to more doubles and triples.
asserted
outfielders → make → doubles
“The hardest part is cutting off doubles in the gap and they’re even turning into triples,” DeBarge said.
asserted
DeBarge → cut → triples
“That’s what they told us they wanted in the beginning.
asserted
they → ’ → beginning
So it works.”
asserted
it → work → ?
Infielders also have new positioning requirements when there are no runners on base, limiting how much they can shift for a hitter’s tendencies.
The Arizona Fall League has long been a testing ground for the next generation of MLB players, and lately, it’s also been a venue for testing potential rules changes.
asserted
it → have → changes
As an example, the AFL was experimenting with the current Automated Ball-Strike system long before it hit the big leagues in 2026.
asserted
it → experiment → 2026
MLB feels that the AFL is a good opportunity to test rules in a relatively low-stakes environment.
asserted
AFL → feel → environment
The league declined official comment on the most recent experiment, and any change to big-league rules would still be years away.
asserted
change → decline → rules
The outfield positioning experiment is limited to just games that are played at Salt River Fields, since it has similar technology to MLB parks.
asserted
it → limit → parks
“We talked to our guys about embracing it, it only happens in our ballpark, so embrace it and move on,” Salt River manager Ted Tom said.
asserted
Tom → talk → it
“There’s going to be some things that we’ve never seen before.
asserted
we → go → that
That’s OK, just keep playing.”
asserted
That → ’ → ?
MLB still searching for more offense
asserted
MLB → search → offense
The rules package that MLB debuted in 2023 has widely been seen as a success.
asserted
MLB → debut → success
The pitch clock was the biggest change — and drastically reduced game times — but there were also tweaks that included rules on infield shifts, bigger bases and a limit on how many times a pitcher could disengage from the rubber.
uncertain
pitcher → reduce → rubber
The idea was to make the games faster and increase offense.
asserted
games → make → offense
The former objective was definitely achieved.
asserted
objective → achieve → ?
Most of MLB’s offensive numbers have barely budged since the new rules package was debuted.
asserted
package → budge → numbers
Game times are about 25 minutes shorter and stolen bases are up, but batting average (.243 in 2022 and .244 in 2026), runs per game (4.28 in 2022, 4.48 in 2026) and hits per game (8.16 in 2022, 8.20 in 2026) haven’t changed much.
asserted
average → steal → 2026
Through Game 2 of the World Series, teams have combined for a .216 batting average through 37 games.
asserted
teams → combine → games
A good pitcher’s duel certainly has its merits, but the occasional 12-8 score can keep fans engaged, too.
asserted
score → have → fans
Doubles and triples are exciting, and MLB wants to see more of them.
asserted
MLB → want → them
“The pros are that you’re never out of the game, it’s very exciting for the fans and there’s lots of action, which is part of the intention,” Tom said.
asserted
Tom → ’re → intention
The experimental rules force outfielders at Salt River Fields to play much more shallow than they would in most situations, which means they are forced to go back on fly balls much more often than normal.
asserted
they → force → balls
The flip side is that there are almost no bloop singles.
asserted
side → be → ?
“It’s a give and take,” Washington Nationals prospect Teo Banks said.
asserted
Banks → ’ → ?
But I think there’s some part of strategy that’s taken away with something like this.”
asserted
that → think → this
Banks wasn’t kidding about the running.
asserted
Banks → kid → running
The left fielder was discussing the new rules after Scottsdale beat Salt River 15-8 during Thursday’s game that featured five triples — which was an AFL record.
asserted
which → discuss → triples
There’s little question that the experiment is having an effect.
asserted
experiment → ’ → effect
Tom — the Salt River manager — thought about the question for a moment and then gave a little grin before mimicking a zipper across his lips.
asserted
Tom → think → lips
Some things are better left unsaid.
asserted
things → leave → ?
The Aporia
