Is Magic Runner Rule of MLB the Reason behind disappearing Extra Innings Home Run?

The Major League Baseball has experienced a few significant changes in their rules, which have been prescribed to ensure that the game becomes a lot more interesting over time and provides the teams a chance to fight more fiercely against each other to claim the ultimate prize, i.e.,, winning the championship. This being the case, the MLB has introduced the magic runner rule recently in the competition. Though it is a rule that has been newly introduced, and it is still dubious whether it will be changed in the long run or not, some of the experts are already seeing it as the apparent reason behind the disappearing extra innings home runs in the competition.

As a matter of fact, since the implementation of the rule in MLB in 2020, the average number of home runs being scored in the game has gone down prolifically. As we all know, the home runs are some of the most productive ways to bring up the scores and are also very effective in cheering the public. They see the ball travel to the stands from the incredible power-hitting displayed by the batters playing the American League.

Coming to the statistics of how the average number of home runs has gone down in the last couple of years since introducing this rule, we can look at the figures depicted in the following lines. In 2019, there were 129 home runs hit after the ninth inning in 208 extra-inning games. Compared to that, the number of home runs hit in 2020-21 comes down to only 35, which have been scored in 123 extra innings games. This shows the significant shift in the numbers that have affected the game over time.

Apart from this, there has also been a radical shift in the MLB’s length. They average 11.3 extra-inning plate appearances per game, whereas, in 2019, the average was 18.6 extra-inning PAs per game. This has surprised several experts, and they are looking at how it can be beneficial for the game. In fact, due to the fewer PA’s, the length of the games have shortened over a period of the last two years, and this has happened since the introduction of the new rule in MLB, which has eventually led to a significant drop in the number of home runs as well.

What’s more, this rule has divided the fans and the experts into two teams, one who favors the implementation of this rule and one consisting of those who are not in favor of the same. Though the rule is certainly a new one, it is definitely changing the face of the game in the American League. However, only time will tell whether it is good to have this rule be continued in the MLB and determine whether it will be good for the game or not in the future.