The three-batter minimum rule, introduced by Major League Baseball (MLB) during the 2020 season, has been questioned by a Japanese baseball joint rules committee, consisting of representatives of pro and amateur baseball.
According to the Japanese rules committee, the rule did not contribute to shortening games and therefore it has decided to put the implementation of the rule on hold, while recommending to monitor the relevant decision(s) eventually made by the WBSC in international baseball tournaments.
Under the three-batter rule, all starting and relief pitchers must face a minimum of three batters per outing unless the inning ends before that. A substitution can occur if an umpire rules a pitcher sustained an injury or illness that prevents him from continuing in the game.
Japan is currently the top-ranked nation in the WBSC Baseball World Rankings.
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