Nine changes that would surprise The Sandlot kids about baseball today
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jun 22, 2026, 3:00 PM
Last updated Jun 22, 2026
Baseball has undergone significant changes since the era depicted in The Sandlot. The introduction of ghost runners, pitch clocks, and an expanded number of teams would astound the characters from the classic film. Players today face new rules aimed at speeding up the game and making it more engaging, such as the automated ball-strike system instituted starting in 2026. These innovations reflect evolving strategies within Major League Baseball to cater to modern audiences and streamline gameplay.
- •The number of MLB teams has expanded to 30.
- •Ghost runners were introduced to shorten extra-inning games.
- •An automated ball-strike system starts in 2026.
- •Pitch clocks have been implemented to speed up play.
- •The Sandlot characters would be unfamiliar with these new rules.
- 3:00 PMYahoo Sports — Things The Sandlot Kids Wouldn’t Recognize About Baseball Today
"From ghost runners to pitch clocks, these nine MLB changes would leave the kids from The Sandlot completely stunned.
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