Report: MLB competition committee to vote on pace-of-play rule changes Friday

Baseball games can be painfully long, but Major League Baseball may be close to making some changes. 

According to ESPN's Jesse Rogers, the MLB competition committee will vote Friday to implement several rule changes to quicken the pace of play. 

Some possible changes up for vote include the introduction of a pitch clock, eliminating the shift, enlarging bases, and curtailing the number of times a pitcher can leave the pitching rubber. 

The pitch clock, used at the minor-league level already, will reportedly be set for 15-seconds with the bases empty and increase to 20-seconds with runners on base. Batters must be in the batter's box and "alert" by at least the eight-second mark of the pitch clock. 

Pitchers will be allowed two "disengagements" from the pitching rubber per plate appearance, which includes pick-off attempts. 

To eliminate defensive shifts, all four infielders must be on the infield dirt, with two infielders required on each side of second base. 

Finally, bases will reportedly increase from 15 inches to 18 inches. 

Sources tell Rogers that the rule changes are expected to pass and would begin for the 2023 season.