One of three rule changes for the 2023 season:
Base Sizes (2023 rule change) MLB.com
Definition
One of the rule changes covers the size of the bases, which traditionally have been 15 inches square, but will now be 18 inches square. Home plate remains unchanged.
Though the base-size change may have a modest impact on stolen-base success rate, the modification’s primary goal is to give players more room to operate and to avoid collisions. This is especially key at first base, where fielders will have an extra 3-inch advantage to stay out of harm’s way from the baserunner while receiving throws.
The change will create a 4 1/2-inch reduction in the distance between first and second base and between second base and third, which will likely encourage more stolen-base attempts. The bigger bases could also have the effect of reducing over-sliding, whereby a player loses contact with the bag after sliding through it.
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Some baseball distances can be different from those of normal human beings. If you are sitting across the table from someone, you would judge the distance between you as the distance between your faces. But using baseball logic, it would be the distance between your face and the back of the other person's head. The two baseball examples:
1. 60 feet, 6 inches from the pitcher's rubber to home plate. It's actually that minus the 17 inches from the front of home plate to the back.
2. 90 feet from home plate to first base. That's to the outfield side of the base. Through 2022 we should subtract the 15 inch size of the base. Starting in 2023, we should subtract the 18 inches.
Using simple geometry, the increase across the middle of a base from the points, such as that between first and third is about 4.25 inches.
A squared + B squared = C squared. Then take the square root of C.
But the larger bases impact more than stolen bases. The batter will reach first base sooner, forcing the infielders to play a little closer to the plate and to hurry a bit more. The first baseman will be a little closer to infielders throwing to first.
Another rule change in 2023 is to limit the shift. But the larger bases will cause that somewhat anyway as a second baseman must play closer to throw out a lefty batter at first.
There may be more sacrifice flies because the runner tagging at third base will be three inches closer to home plate.
There should be more doubles and triples.
More runners going from first to third.
More runners getting thrown out attempting all of the above.
More speed overall, for base runners and infielders.
https://content.mlb.com/documents/2/2/4/305750224/2019_Official_Baseball_Rules_FINAL_.pdf
Rule 2.01
2.00 –THE PLAYING FIELD
2.01 Layout of the Field
The infield shall be a 90-foot square...
When location of home base is determined, with a steel tape measure 127 feet, 33
⁄8 inches in desired direction to establish second
base...
The distance between first base and third base is 127 feet, 33
⁄8 inches...
2.02 Home Base
Home base shall be marked by a five-sided slab of whitened rubber.
It shall be a 17-inch square with two of the corners removed so that
one edge is 17 inches long, two adjacent sides are 8½ inches and
the remaining two sides are 12 inches and set at an angle to make a
point
2.04 The Pitcher’s Plate
... the distance between the pitcher’s plate
and home base (the rear point of home plate) shall be 60 feet, 6 inches
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Click link for MLB diagram 2.
90 feet to the back of first and third bases is not explicitly shown but is implied. Only 25% of second base is within the 90-foot square. Hey, baseball is ancient. We're lucky we have anything.
Why is the baseball field square? Eliminate the outfield corners. Monday, November 7, 2022
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