ValleyCats manager likes new extra-inning rule

When the Tri-City ValleyCats go to extra innings this season, there will be a man in scoring position before a single pitch is thrown.

Extra innings throughout the minor leagues will begin with a runner on second base in 2018, one of the new rule and procedural changes announced by Minor League Baseball today that are intended to shorten games and speed up the pace of play.

The runner at second base will be the player in the batting order previous to the hitter leading off that inning, unless the manager chooses to use a pinch-runner.

"I think it's going to make it pretty exciting,'' new ValleyCats manager Jason Bell said.