5 overreactions from 2023 MLB Spring Training so far

Your favorite team is busy preparing for the 2023 season in Spring Training, and chances are you’ve been following some of the various early storylines that have dominated Grapefruit and Cactus League play.

Of course, this is merely exhibition, so fans should not place a ton of stock into March happenings. But as we know, they do anyway.

To this end, let’s review five early overreactions to Spring Training 2023 across MLB.

5 overreactions to 2023 MLB Spring Training so far

1. The new rules are … not great

You either love them or hate them. Either way, they’re probably not intended to appease you, the dedicated baseball fan.

Let’s start with the pitch clock. Games in Spring Training have been breezing by as a result of it, averaging out around two-and-a-half hours per contest. No, this doesn’t mean less baseball as many fans have suggested. Rather, it’s the same 27 outs and nine innings just condensed into a lesser time frame.

Hitters seem to have a harder time adjusting to this innovation than pitchers, but they’ll get used to it in due time, just like we’ve seen with other rule changes throughout baseball history. This should be a great enhancement to the game in 2023 and beyond.

Now for the shift ban. It appears as though Alex Cora and the Boston Red Sox have already found a loophole in the rule, as it doesn’t stipulate where outfielders have to play, just the infielders. Thus, a new wrinkle for Twins’ DH Joey Gallo to contend with.

Overall, these rules have brought intrigue to how baseball is played, and as these players continue to adjust, the game should become more action-heavy. But leave it to fans and “baseball purists” to overreact to early results in spring training.