They say necessity is the mother of invention, and when you’re attempting to play professional baseball in the middle of a global pandemic, sometimes old rules have to go out the window. The COVID-19-shortened 2020 season saw Major League Baseball roll out a number of innovations: seven-inning doubleheaders, expanded rosters, the automatic extra-innings baserunner, the universal DH.
Though the pandemic still rages, the 2021 baseball season, which kicks off next week, looks to be a return to normal of sorts—162 games, an on-time start, no more 16-team-playoff shenanigans. But there are quite a few 2020 rule changes carrying over into 2021.