It was announced last week that there will be rule changes implemented in the minor leagues this year, with different rule changes being implemented at different levels. MLB is implementing these rule changes to see how they impact the games, as they work to address various issues that have dogged the league for some time now — issues that can broadly be put under the “lack of action” category.
Pace of play issues have been prominent in that regard, and thus we are seeing the use of play clocks in the lower levels to ensure pitchers deliver their pitches in a timely manner and pitching changes and inning turnovers happen quickly.