Visual Comparison of the Old Bases to the New Bases

Easily the least controversial of the rule changes coming to MLB this year, the bases – first through third – will be larger this season, increasing from 15 inches squared to 18 inches squared. It doesn’t sound like much, but when you look at the bases, you can see it’s a pretty sizable increase.

With media arriving to Spring Training this week, MLB displayed the bases, old and new, for folks to take pictures:

By total surface area, it’s a nearly 50% increase in base size. That means a shorter distance between the bases – about four and a half inches – and also more edge area for runners to shoot for.

Together, the impact there should be more safety in bang-bang plays (especially at first base), and more stolen bases on close swipe tags (especially at second base). These are just straight up obviously good things for the game.

So, take your good long look now at the visual difference in the bases. Once the games start, although the impacts will remain, you will almost certainly no longer notice a difference when looking at the field of play.