The WBSC Executive Board held its second
meeting of 2024 on Thursday, approving rule changes to the U-12, U-15 and U-18
Baseball World Cups as well as three National Federation updates.
WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari opened the meeting by expressing his
“deepest condolences and solidarity with those affected by the recent
earthquake in Taiwan. Our thoughts are with them during this challenging time,”
he said while confirming that the Chinese Taipei Baseball Association and the Chinese
Taipei Softball Association reported their baseball and softball communities were
unharmed.
The Board members approved three rule changes the Baseball Technical
Commission proposed for the U-12 Baseball World Cup. The re-entry rule was
removed while teams won't be able to use a designated hitter. The Bat
Performance Factor (BPF) was also lowered from 1.15 to 1, which matches the BPF
of one-piece wooden bats.
The Board also approved a proposal
regarding the pitch limit rule in the U-12, U-15 and U-18 Baseball World Cups.
The limits will become cumulative each day to further protect young athletes,
giving more rest days in case a pitcher gets to the mound for three consecutive
days.
The merger of the Cuba Baseball and the
Cuba Softball Federations into one national governing body – the Cuba Baseball
Softball Federation - was also approved along with the change of the British
Virgin Island Softball Federation to the British Virgin Island Baseball &
Softball Federation and the Sint Maarten Baseball Federation to the Sint
Maarten Baseball & Softball Federation.
Earlier in the meeting, the Executive Board
reflected on the success of last month’s eBaseball World Finals at the Olympic
Museum in Lausanne which were heralded as a significant milestone in the
“WBSC’s efforts to innovate and grow baseball/softball” with the Executive
Board “very excited” about the future opportunities of the discipline.
The Global Baseball Series in Osaka between
Samurai Japan and Team Europe were also applauded for providing two thrilling games
in the series’ return to the international calendar. “It was a resounding
success and a fantastic showcase for our beloved sport,” President Fraccari
said. “I'm incredibly proud of the strides we're making in promoting baseball
internationally and it was a strong sign of the continued good cooperation
between the WBSC and NPB.”
The Board also received a briefing regarding the WBSC’s 10-year anniversary celebrations set for 10 May, which will be a chance for National Federations and clubs to participate by playing Baseball, Softball or Baseball5 and posting on social media on the day. “It's a momentous occasion that highlights a decade of dedication, collaboration, and progress,” President Fraccari said. “Let's take this opportunity to reflect on our achievements and look forward to the promising future ahead.”
