The Minor League is intended to expand upon what the players learned in Farm League. Pitching improves in Minors, and all players should again be encouraged to pitch during practice and games if they exhibit the required control. Players should still be allowed to try various positions. Managers should expand on the team play (cutoffs, backing up, etc.) Minors’ primary focus should be on providing a fun environment for learning the game while introducing some healthy competition.

1. Games are 6 innings long. A final inning will NOT be started after an hour and 45 minutes from the game start time. For the playoffs, this will be extended to two hours.  There is no “hard stop” rule.  Three innings are considered a complete game. Games halted due to rain/lightning that have played less than 3 innings before becoming a regulation game, but after 1 or more innings have been played, it shall be resumed exactly where it left off if the schedule permits. All records, including pitching innings, shall be counted. The pitcher of record may continue pitching when the game is resumed providing they meet the pitching restrictions of the week in which the game is resumed, i.e., days rest and total weekly innings. If the schedule cannot accommodate the continuation, the game will not be counted in the standings.

2. Extra innings will be allowed if time permits. Any game tied after six innings will be declared a tie (the exception being playoff games) if extra innings cannot be played due to time restrictions. Playoff games will be an exception to this rule, and will be played to completion.

3. See the Pitching Addendum below.

4. There is a 5-run limit for each team per inning except for the last inning. During the last inning, there is no run limit for either team. The visitors may score an unlimited amount of runs, and the home team will have the option to score as many as needed to tie or win the game. Coaches may agree on the last inning prior to the start of an inning where time/darkness is becoming an issue.

5. Each player must play a minimum of four innings in the field (12 outs). A player may re-enter a game at any time. All players should experience different positions, keeping in consideration safety issues. All players must play in the infield at least once per game. All players should be given an opportunity to pitch during the season. All players will start 1/2 of the games, provided they have regular attendance. A player may not play the same position (including pitcher) for more than 2 innings in a game, with the exception of a catcher.  A player may catch a maximum of 3 innings per game.

6. In the event of a player shortage, a team may play a game with 8 players. A substitute fielder from the opposition should be used in a position decided by the manager who is short a player. The substitute fielder should be the player who made the last out in the previous inning.

7. A continuous batting order will be used. The order must be set at the start of a game and not changed during the course of the game. If someone arrives late, they will be placed at the end of the order.  If someone leaves a regular season game early because of injury or another commitment, their spot will be skipped with NO automatic out.

8. Base stealing will be limited to 3 steals per inning per team at the beginning of the regular season, and will increase to 5 steals per inning starting the week of 5/15/23. Steals of any base will count towards the total of 3 (or 5) per inning. Any advancement on non-batted balls is considered a steal, including the following.  Advancement of runners to any base on passed balls are considered steals. Advancement on an overthrow during an attempted steal or a pickoff attempt is considered a steal and counts toward the steal limit.  A single player is only allowed 2 steals per inning.  Runners may not leave the base to advance until the ball has crossed the plate. Base coaches should help enforce this rule.  Players must slide into all bases (except 1st) whenever there is a play at that base - this is a safety issue. No headfirst slides when advancing to the next base (a player may headfirst slide back to the previous base on a pickoff attempt).

9. Advancement on any overthrow on a batted ball will be limited to one base for all runners. Each runner will be awarded the base they were moving towards at the time of the overthrow and one additional base as they are able. Any additional bases taken on the overthrow of a steal will be counted in the steal count.

10. Bunting is allowed. Slash bunting - Fake bunting and then swinging is not allowed. Fake bunting without a swing is allowed.

11. The strike zone will be defined as knees to the shirt collar, and leeway will be given to approximately 2 inches on either side of the plate. This is an effort to encourage swinging and putting the ball in play on a regular basis.

12. Umpires will have the final say on all calls and will be fully respected by managers, coaches, players, and fans. Any perceived errors, in fact (NOT judgment) by umpires, should be taken up AFTER the game by both Managers in a constructive, teaching manner and reported to a league director. Umpires should NEVER be challenged or corrected by a Manager/Coach during a game. If there is a learning moment in the game, the managers should contact the MYB Director to discuss with the umpire between innings. This rule will be strictly monitored and enforced.

13. Infield Fly is enforced. Managers should remind umpires before the game.

14. Coaches must remain in the dugout or beyond the opening in the dugout unless they are coaching first or third base.

15. Only one on-deck batter is allowed. That player must be positioned at the far end of the dugout, away from home plate, protected by the dugout fence.

16. No Donuts are allowed in the on-deck circle.

17. Balks are not enforced.

18. BOTH teams (Managers/Coaches) are responsible for lining the field pre-game and raking the infield before EVERY game. Teams are also responsible for emptying the trash containers in their dugouts after EVERY game.

PLAYOFFS

Playoffs will use a double-elimination setup, and a random draw will determine the seeding.  Regular season records will NOT determine playoff seeding.  During playoffs, players can play a single position for more than two innings per game, but minimum playing requirements and pitch count rules still apply.  Additionally, the following extra inning rules will be implemented:

• Innings 7-9: each team starts with a runner on 2B and no outs.  The runner on 2B will be the player in the batting order immediately preceding the player who is leading off the inning.
• Innings 10+ (hopefully not): each team starts with the bases loaded and one out.  The baserunners will be the three players in the batting order immediately preceding the player who is leading off the inning.

Pitching Addendum

Limit on Number of Pitches

The following limits apply to the number of pitches a pitcher may deliver in a single day.

A pitcher who reaches the limit, having thrown at least one pitch to the current batter, may continue to pitch until that batter becomes a runner or is put out, or the inning ends, whichever comes first.

Required Rest Periods

The following rest periods apply for both the regular season and tournament:

A day’s rest is a full calendar day (not a period of 24 hours). Examples: A pitcher who throws 30 pitches on Friday is not eligible Saturday but is eligible Sunday. A pitcher who throws 70 pitches on Saturday is next eligible on Thursday.  A pitcher who starts a batter before reaching 75 pitches will be allowed to finish that batter before being removed.

Players Pitching and Catching on the Same Day

• A player who has pitched 41 or more pitches may not play as a catcher for the rest of the day.

• (Playoffs only) In the playoffs, a player who has played as the catcher in four or more innings may not pitch for the rest of the day. Receipt of a single pitch as a catcher in an inning constitutes catching in that inning.  A player is not allowed to play four or more inning as a catcher in the regular season (max three innings) and thus is still allowed to pitch in the same game.

Other Rules (Control and Mound Visits)

• Pitchers who throw 4 walks in a row or 6 walks within an inning or Pitchers who hit 3 batters in an outing should be replaced. 

• A manager or coach may visit a single pitcher no more than two times in one inning and three times in a game before removing the pitcher. A manager or coach may visit a pitcher at the mound in between innings. This will NOT be considered an official visit.