Although Ronald Acuña Jr. doesn’t require assistance in stealing bases, Major League Baseball might be giving him an additional benefit.
Ronald Acuña Jr., a top player with the Atlanta Braves, stole the most bases in the league in 2023—73. Acuña has a rare level of speed, but his ridiculous number of thefts was also aided by the pitch clock and larger bases. It looks like Major League Baseball is about to implement a new regulation that would provide them even more of a benefit in 2024. It is well knowledge that umpires enforce stricter new regulations during spring training, allowing managers and players to make necessary adjustments before the regular season begins. This season, we witnessed it with the new pitch clock regulations.
A regulation concerning outfield obstruction is one of the most significant modifications going into the 2024 season. The New York Mets and Detroit Tigers were playing in Spring Training when Francisco Lindor was penalized for obstruction on what appeared to be a sure-out. The runner needs to have a sliding lane to the bag or plate whenever there is a play at any base, according to the fundamental rule. This has been significantly altered, and fielders are no longer permitted to block any area of the base. See how closely umpires are using this new rule below.
This seems over the top and like a decision that can be challenging at times. It’s possible that instant replay can help with obstruction calls that were missed, but given how close the call was, the call made on the field might stand.
In any case, it appears to have been a terrible call because Lindor gave the runner a lane to slide. If not, what else do you think infielders are supposed to do? There’s essentially no reason to even attempt a throw down if he doesn’t block the base in any way. Ronald Acuña Jr. may steal more bases than he did the previous season if this rule is applied with the same rigor as it was in the Mets vs. Tigers regular season game. Although many predict that Acuña will slow down a bit on the basepaths, one rule change alone may cause him to surpass preseason expectations.
Although Ronald already excels on the base paths and doesn’t need any assistance, this type of policing virtually ensures that he will be running more frequently than he did the previous season. By then, what have you got to lose? The runner who applies this rule will have the advantage. But, increased regulation enforcement may also cause some Major League Baseball fans to further devalue stolen bases. Acuna’s 73 thefts in 2023 were widely criticized for being underwhelming due to the altered base size. We most definitely don’t want him to lose any more respect for his extraordinary talent.
