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Why the latest potential MLB rule tweak could be the worst of all

A view of a MLB baseball. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

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Why the latest potential MLB rule tweak could be the worst of all

By Kevin Henry | Last updated Oct 31, 2026 9:08 AM ET

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SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Major League Baseball's latest potential attempt to inject offense back to the game could be its worst idea in some time.

That's saying a lot for a league that has added bigger bases, "ghost runners" in extra innings and banned the infield shift in recent years. However, toying with the positioning of outfielders inside one Arizona Fall League site is the Mount Everest of ill-fated ideas MLB has pushed in recent years.

Come to a Fall league game at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick and you're likely to see plenty of extra-base hits, thanks in part to limits on where the outfielders can play.

Part of the very expansive rule list for outfielders at Salt River includes staying in "a box" that is set roughly 285 to 290 feet from home plate. That is much more shallow than much less than the average of 323 feet that outfielders position themselves during MLB games.

That box also prevents outfielders from shading too far, keeping the gaps and foul lines open for extra-base hits as well.

What's the result? More offense ... and a lot of outfielders having to hustle to catch up to a ball that might have been a standard out inside other Fall League stadiums.

Some of the benefits can be seen in this very detailed social media post from respected baseball coach Jerry Weinstein.

Down in Arizona at the MLB lab(Arizona Fall League at Salt River Fields ) they are experimenting with outfield positioning by rule in order to increase offense. The CF has to be 285-290’( Average in today’s game is 323’)from HP at the time of the pitch & the corner outfielders are also shallow & closer to the lines. It has greatly increased offense in all areas because of the depth & wider gaps. POTENTIAL IMPLICATIONS 1) We will draft more speed in the outfield & the DH type outfielder will have less value. 2) Line drives to all fields will have more value because they will have less hang time & with outfielders playing shallower & more towards the lines they will have less time to cover more ground. 3) Arm strength will be less valued because the batted balls hit in front of them will get to them closer to HP & sooner than when they were playing deeper. 4) More late inning come backs in close game because there won’t be “no doubles” positioning ( Extra deep). 5) More apt to play left handed throwers in RF & RH throwers in LF to put their glove hand closer to the gap because so many more balls will be hit into the gap with corner outfielders playing closer to the lines. 6) On extra base hits middle infielders having to go out further to get throws from outfielders to prevent triples & inside the park home runs. Arm strength more a priority for middle infielders especially second basemen. Maybe the shortstop goes out for all extra base hits. 7) Depth rule adjustments for places like Coors Field or any off the larger fields. THOUGHTS?
— Jerry Weinstein (@JWonCATCHING) October 29, 2026

I witnessed the result of the outfield "box" first-hand on Thursday night. New York Yankees top prospect Dax Kilby, who played his home games this fall at Salt River Fields, blasted standup triples in his first two at-bats of the game, forcing outfielders to scramble to catch up with the shots.

Granted, Kilby's two triples would have likely still landed even with the outfielders being forced to play in. However, watch in the video below where the outfielders begin to chase the ball and it's little wonder why Kilby didn't even have to slide into third on either of his blasts.

One triple just isn't enough for Dax Kilby. The #Yankees' top prospect (MLB No. 78) races for back-to-back three-baggers in the Fall League: https://t.co/vMUf0VRAgo
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) October 30, 2026

Kilby isn't alone in taking advantage of the opportunities this fall. According to Baseball America, runs per game at Salt River Fields (the only park where this is being instituted this fall) are up 34 percent, doubles per game are up 81 percent and triples are up an astonishing 236 percent.

Those numbers beg the question of, while this may be good for the offense, will we have to put an asterisk by any batting or fielding metrics under this system? And why do pitchers have to suffer with higher ERAs because of this?

For the casual baseball fan, more hits equals more entertainment and excitement. That's one of the reasons why MLB is experimenting with the outfield in Arizona. However, for those who have a deeper connection to the game, seeing the issues that this could cause with inflated pitching and hitting stats and fewer chances for defensive gems and strategy, watching what is going on in Arizona right now is an abomination to the game.

Experiment all you want now, MLB. But please keep this potential tweak to the rules as a one-time experiment and nothing more.

Kevin Henry

A member of the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA), Kevin Henry has been covering MLB and MiLB for nearly two decades. Those assignments have included All-Star Games and the MLB postseason, including the World Series. Based in the Denver area, Kevin calls Coors Field his home base, but travels throughout North America during the season to discover the best stories possible

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