Major League Baseball recently announced a new set of experimental rules will be tested during the 2021 Atlantic League season.
Among them include the “double-hook” rule, which essentially is a compromise of the traditional style of National League baseball and the American League’s use of the designated hitter.
Teams will begin each game with a designated hitter but lose the spot in the lineup as soon as the starting pitcher is removed. The hope behind the change is that teams will leave their starting pitchers in longer.
Another rule being tested is moving the pitching rubber back one foot (60’6″ to 61’6″) to provide batters more time to react to pitches.