February 14, 2023 – As Major League Baseball is set to implement significant changes this season, MLB Network will debut a special MLB Tonight: What’s New in 2023 program focused on the new rules and balanced schedule this Thursday, February 16 at 7 p.m. ET. Co-hosted by MLB Network’s Adnan Virk and Tom Verducci, the program will welcome MLB consultant for On-Field Matters and three-time World Series Champion executive Theo Epstein to discuss how this season will be played with new pitch timers, shift restrictions and bigger bases. The program will also detail how this season will mark the first to feature a balanced schedule for all 30 Clubs across the Majors since Interleague play was introduced in 1997.

On the new on-field rules, Epstein says on the program, “There’s no doubt the game has evolved a lot over the last two to three decades. Some of those changes have been driven by optimizations that were led by front offices and people like me, pushing them. While it might have helped you win some more games, it didn’t necessarily change the game for the better for the fans, in terms of the game that is played on the field aesthetically. So, credit to Commissioner [Manfred], the owners, the players, who all got involved and worked on these new rules, tested them out over 8,000 Minor League games. Threw out the ones that didn’t work, improved the ones that did work and now we’re excited to have these new rules that’ll make the game better for the fans. The game is about the players and the rules will put the players in the center of the action, and it’s for the fans. We think it’ll be a better product overall for the fans to enjoy.”

Clips from players Cody Bellinger (Chicago Cubs), Andrew Benintendi (Chicago White Sox), Joc Pederson (San Francisco Giants), Max Scherzer (New York Mets), and Taijuan Walker (Philadelphia Phillies) discussing the new rules in interviews this offseason will be part of the program. Studio 42 demonstrations from MLB Network analyst Dan O’Dowd and MLB Network analyst and career .302 hitter Sean Casey explaining the approach hitters will make to the new pitch clock and shift restrictions will be featured. 

MLB Network analyst Harold Reynolds and MLB Senior Director of On-Field Operations and 14-year Major League veteran Rajai Davis will discuss how the bigger bases will impact the running game in a Studio 42 demonstration. The program will also include clips of MLB SVP of On-Field Operations Raúl Ibañez and MLB VP of On-Field Strategy Joe Martinez discussing the game rules during MLB Network’s Triple-A telecast this past August featuring the Charlotte Knights (Chicago White Sox affiliate) vs. the Syracuse Mets (New York Mets affiliate).