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While Major League Baseball has been experimenting with extra innings rule changes in recent years, the Pioneer League — an independent league designated as an MLB Partner League — is taking things a step further.
On Tuesday, the league announced that it will implement a first-of-its-kind “Knock Out” rule that will resolve games tied after nine innings with a sudden death home run derby.
“Under the rule, each team designates a hitter who receives five pitches, with the game determined by the most home runs hit,” said a press release announcing the rule changes. “If still tied after the first ‘Knock Out’ round, another hitter is selected for a sudden-death home run face-off until a winner is declared.”
In addition to the Knock Out home run derby, the league is also experimenting with a designated pinch hitter rule, allowing a player to be pinch hit for before returning to their defensive position for the remainder of the game. Additionally, a designated pinch runner rule allows an eligible rostered player to be pinch run for before returning to their designated defensive position for the remainder of the game.
While the Pioneer League is a partner league with Major League Baseball, there is no official tie with MLB officially experimenting with these potential rule changes. MLB previously announced a partnership with the independent Atlantic League to test rule changes, including moving the pitching rubber back a foot and a double-hook rule where a team will lose its designated hitter when it removes a starting pitcher.
MLB also recently instituted rule changes at the minor league level including bigger bases, regulations of the shift and forcing pitchers to step off the rubber completely before throwing to a base.