The MLB has been utilizing independent baseball leagues to tinker with new rules to experiment with.
Robot umpires were brought in to help officiate the Atlantic League All-Star Game earlier this season that was coined "Track Man."
The experimenting is back, and the MLB and the Atlantic League has decided to integrate a dropped strike rule, which allows players to essentially steal first on balls not "caught in flight."
Come Saturday, the rule was in effect, and Tony Thomas of the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs was the first person to take advantage of the new rule and the first person in the history of the sport to steal 1st base.
On a 1-0 count against the Lancaster Barnstormers, a pitch evaded the catcher. You can see the hesitancy in Thomas, who quickly realized it's time to run, perhaps with the assistance of his teammates or coaches.
Interesting indeed. Could we see this rule work its way up to the majors?
What do you think of this new rule? Let us know in the comments!
