The abbreviated 2020 season afforded Major League Baseball an opportunity to test out different rules. Chief among them was a change to extra innings that automatically placed a runner on second base.
The new rule was intended to shorten the length of extra innings and get players off the field as soon as possible amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The change was initially frowned upon and received sharp criticism across the league.
Los Angeles Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw was among the players not fond of runners beginning on second base in extra innings.