Major League Baseball on Thursday outlined a litany of experimental rules it plans to implement at different minor league levels this season, including banning some forms of defensive shifts, more games governed by an electronic strike zone, a 15-second pitch clock, limiting pickoff moves and larger bases.

The rules changes, announced by the league in anticipation of a minor league season expected to begin in May, will be studied for potential adoption in the major leagues. The league made a number of hires, including bringing on former Chicago Cubs president Theo Epstein as a consultant, in hopes of improving its on-field product.

Each level of the newly constructed minor leagues, which came under MLB control and will go from 162 teams to 120, will have a twist on game play. The most radical will be at Double-A, where four infielders will be mandated to have both feet on the infield dirt, preventing the extreme shifts that often see players from the left side of the infield shifted to short right field. Depending on the results, the league said, the second half of the season could see a more extreme version of the rule: two infielders on each side of the second-base bag.

The league was unabashed in its explanation for the rule: "These restrictions on defensive positioning are intended to increase the batting average on balls in play."

Teams in the low-A Southeast league -- previously the Florida State League -- will use ABS (automated ball-strike system) in "select games" with hopes of determining "the optimal strike zone for the system." The electronic system, which was used in the Arizona Fall League and independent Atlantic League in 2019, will undergo a change: Instead of using a three-dimensional zone that covers the entire plate, it will call balls and strikes based on a two-dimensional plane at the front of the plate.

Another low-A league, the West, will operate under a 15-second pitch clock. MLB and the players' association have discussed the implementation of a pitch clock, and it is likely to be part of a broader discussion on new rules with the collective bargaining agreement expiring Dec. 1.

Increasing offense is certainly part of the calculus of a low-A-wide rule: Pitchers can attempt a pickoff or step off the rubber only twice per at-bat. If they do so a third time and fail to pick off a runner, a balk will be called and the runners on base will advance. Depending on the results, pickoffs/step-offs could be lessened to one per plate appearance.

The new rule in high-A is likely to have a demonstrable effect on stolen bases, too: Pitchers must step off the rubber before throwing to first base, eliminating a go-to move for many left-handed pitchers that weaponized the pickoff. MLB implemented the rule in the Atlantic League in the second half of 2019 and saw stolen-base attempts jump 70% with a leap in success rate as well. While the stolen base has been disincentivized by teams deeming it not worth the risk, the new rules likely will change that.

The final rule is at the highest level, Triple-A: Bases will be 3 inches longer on each side. Currently, the front edge of first base sits 88 feet, 9 inches from home plate. It will move to 88 feet, 6 inches; the distance between first and second, and second and third, will likewise decrease. The result, MLB said: "a modest impact on the success rate of stolen base attempts and the frequency with which a batter-runner reaches base on ground balls and bunt attempts." MLB also hopes larger bases will allow for fewer injuries on collisions at the bag.

NEW YORK -- AL Cy Young Award winner Shane Bieber of the Cleveland Indians was among eight players whose contracts were unilaterally renewed by their team before Thursday's deadline for all players on 40-man rosters to have deals for the 2021 season.

Bieber will receive a $679,700 salary while in the major leagues and $311,600 in the unlikely event he is optioned to the minors.

Bieber was an All-Star in 2019 and led the major leagues during 2020's shortened season in wins (eight), ERA (1.63) and strikeouts (122). Unless he reaches a long-term deal, he is likely to be eligible for salary arbitration next winter.

The eight renewals were among the fewest in one year.

Those renewed include New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso, the 2019 NL Rookie of the Year, who gets a salary of $676,775 in the major leagues and $326,261 in the minors.

Alonso was an All-Star in 2019, when he hit a rookie record 53 home runs, batted .260 and had 120 RBIs. He hit .231 with 16 homers and 35 RBIs last year.

Mets outfielder Jeff McNeil was renewed at a salary of $642,251 in the majors and $308,838 in the minors. He batted .311 with four homers and 23 RBIs last year after hitting .318 with 23 homers and 75 RBIs in 2019. Alonso and McNeil also are likely to be eligible for arbitration next winter.

Another top young Mets player, left-hander David Peterson, agreed to a one-year contract with a salary of $585,750 in the major leagues.

Seattle outfielder Kyle Lewis, the reigning AL Rookie of the Year, was renewed for $625,000 in the majors and $282,750 in the minors. Lewis won't be eligible for arbitration until after the 2022 season at the earliest.

Others renewed Arizona right-hander Zac Gallen ($607,500/$287,500), Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Andrew Toles ($583,500/$93,000), Atlanta pitcher Ian Anderson ($575,500/$142,978) and Oakland catcher Sean Murphy ($575,500/$281,750).

Toles was placed on the restricted list in March 2019 and was briefly at extended spring training that year but did not play. He was arrested last June on a misdemeanor trespassing charge in Key West, Florida.

Kyle Garland leads on day one of the Heptathlon with a big overnight score

NCAA Championships Day One, Fayetteville, AR, March 11-13

There was high quality at the first day of the NCAA Championships with good action in the multi-event competition on Thursday.

20-year-old Kyle Garland of Georgia has a 21 point lead overnight in the heptathlon with a score of 3555 points.

Garland ran 7.09 for 60m, achieved 7.50m in the long jump, threw 15.41m in the shot and achieved the day’s best high jump with a 2.15m PB leap.

This score would have placed the 2018 World Junior decathlon seventh-placer second in the previous week’s European Indoor Championships overnight even ahead of eventual world leader Kevin Mayer but it’s safe to say his second day does not yet match up with the Decathlon world record-holder and gold is far from certain with two others within 30 points.

Early leader Leo Neugebauer (3534) and Karel Tilga (3529) are both still in touch for the title with a big gap to fourth placer Felix Wolter’s 3335.

Neugebauer long jumped a top class 7.87m the bst of all competitors while Tilga’s best result was a 16.04m shot which also headed the competition.

Ayden Owens was the pick of the 60m runners with a 6.82 clocking.

60m
(s1)
1 Felix Wolter GER Pitt 7.04 868
2 Kyle Garland Georgia 7.06 861
3 Daniel Spejcher Arkansas 7.08 854
4 Karel Tilga EST Georgia 7.09 851
5 Alexandros Spiridonidis GRE Auburn 7.10 847
6 Kristo Simulask EST Oklahoma 7.13 837
7 Jacob Spotswood Alabama 7.18 819
8 Isaiah Martin Purdue 7.22 806
(s2)
1 Ayden Owens PUR Michigan 6.82 947
2 Itamar Basteker ISR Arkansas 6.91 915
3 Peyton Haack Iowa 6.96 897
4 Denim Rogers HouBaptist 6.97 893
5 Leo Neugebauer GER Texas 6.98 889
6 Maximilian Vollmer GER Oregon 6.98 889
7 Austin West Iowa 7.01 879
8 Markus Ballengee Arkansas 7.36 759

LJ
1 Leo Neugebauer GER Texas 7.87 1027
2 Karel Tilga EST Georgia 7.62 965
3 Felix Wolter GER Pitt 7.58 955
4 Kyle Garland Georgia 7.50 935
5 Alexandros Spiridonidis GRE Auburn 7.45 922
6 Ayden Owens PUR Michigan 7.36 900
7 Itamar Basteker ISR Arkansas 7.27 878
8 Austin West Iowa 7.27 878
9 Peyton Haack Iowa 7.16 852
10 Maximilian Vollmer GER Oregon 7.11 840
11 Kristo Simulask EST Oklahoma 7.11 840
12 Daniel Spejcher Arkansas 7.02 818
13 Jacob Spotswood Alabama 7.02 818
14 Isaiah Martin Purdue 7.02 818
15 Denim Rogers HouBaptist 6.86 781
16 Markus Ballengee Arkansas 6.24 639

SP
1 Karel Tilga EST Georgia 16.04 854
2 Maximilian Vollmer GER Oregon 15.82 840
3 Kyle Garland Georgia 15.41 815
4 Leo Neugebauer GER Texas 14.95 787
5 Daniel Spejcher Arkansas 14.86 781
6 Felix Wolter GER Pitt 14.13 736
7 Ayden Owens PUR Michigan 14.07 733
8 Jacob Spotswood Alabama 13.58 703
9 Alexandros Spiridonidis GRE Auburn 13.47 696
10 Peyton Haack Iowa 13.44 694
11 Isaiah Martin Purdue 13.33 687
12 Kristo Simulask EST Oklahoma 13.03 669
13 Austin West Iowa 12.92 662
14 Itamar Basteker ISR Arkansas 12.32 626
15 Denim Rogers HouBaptist 12.22 620
– Markus Ballengee Arkansas dns 0

HJ
(grp 1)
1 Karel Tilga EST Georgia 2.06 859
2 Felix Wolter GER Pitt 1.97 776
3 Peyton Haack Iowa 1.94 749
4 Ayden Owens PUR Michigan 1.94 749
5 Itamar Basteker ISR Arkansas 1.88 696
6 Austin West Iowa 1.88 696
7 Daniel Spejcher Arkansas 1.85 670
8 Maximilian Vollmer GER Oregon 1.85 670
(grp 2)
1 Kyle Garland Georgia 2.15 944
2 Leo Neugebauer GER Texas 2.03 831
3 Denim Rogers HouBaptist 2.00 803
4 Alexandros Spiridonidis GRE Auburn 1.97 776
4 Jacob Spotswood Alabama 1.97 776
6 Isaiah Martin Purdue 1.94 749
– Kristo Simulask EST Oklahoma nh 0

After 4 events
1 Kyle Garland Georgia 3555
2 Leo Neugebauer GER Texas 3534
3 Karel Tilga EST Georgia 3529
4 Felix Wolter GER Pitt 3335
5 Ayden Owens PUR Michigan 3329
6 Alexandros Spiridonidis GRE Auburn 3241
7 Maximilian Vollmer GER Oregon 3239
8 Peyton Haack Iowa 3192
9 Daniel Spejcher Arkansas 3123
10 Jacob Spotswood Alabama 3116
11 Itamar Basteker ISR Arkansas 3115
12 Austin West Iowa 3115
13 Denim Rogers HouBaptist 3097
14 Isaiah Martin Purdue 3060
15 Kristo Simulask EST Oklahoma 2346
– Markus Ballengee Arkansas dnf

Roger Federer lost his second match since returning from a 14-month injury lay-off, going out to Nikoloz Basilashvili in the quarter-finals of the Qatar Open.

Federer had beaten Britain's Dan Evans on his return to action on Wednesday to reach the last eight.

Basilashvili saved a match point before going on to beat the Swiss 39-year-old.

After Federer missed his chance of victory in the 10th game of the deciding set, world number 42 Basilashvili went on to break the three-time Qatar Open winner in the ensuing game and eventually prevailed in one hour and 50 minutes.

Federer, in competitive action for the first time since January 2020 after two knee surgeries, said playing two matches in two days was "a good stepping stone" in his recovery.

"I've come from so far away that I am actually happy I was able to play back-to-back three-set matches against top players," he said.

"That's an important step forward for me. I'm not at 100% yet.

"I still need another five or six weeks in fitness.

"In the next four months until Wimbledon, we've got to take a real good look at the schedule and see how much workload the knee can take, and what's the best way to prepare for what's basically the beginning of the season for me - which is the grass court season."

Beating Federer 'a dream come true'

Basilashvili said fighting back from a set down to beat Federer was "unbelievable".

"I am very happy he came back to play, and to win against him is a dream come true," the 29-year-old said.

"He was always my idol, and I am sure he is to many tennis players and fans, so I am unbelievably happy."

Basilashvili will face 23-year-old Taylor Fritz on Friday after the American beat Denis Shapovalov 5-7 6-3 7-5.

Andrey Rublev reached the semi-finals at the Khalifa Tennis Complex without playing a single match after Marton Fucsovics withdrew with a back injury.

Rublev, ranked eighth in the world and given a first-round bye, was handed his second walkover in as many days after Richard Gasquet pulled out of their second-round meeting on Wednesday with a leg injury.

The Russian becomes the first men's singles player since 1990 to receive back-to-back walkovers at a tournament

Norrie beaten in Marseille

Elsewhere, Great Britain's Cameron Norrie was beaten by Frenchman Pierre-Hugues Herbert in the second round of the Open 13 Provence in Marseille.

The British number three, who reached the third round of the Australian Open in February, went down 6-3 6-4 against Herbert, who is ranked 30 places lower than Norrie at 93.

Herbert saved all five break points he faced against Norrie, and hit 14 aces compared to just one from the 25-year-old left-hander.

Prop Tomas Francis says he hopes his Wales career will benefit after his move from Exeter Chiefs to Ospreys.

He will now be available for all Wales games and avoid having to play club games between Six Nations weekends.

"Hopefully it can add to my performances and add to me as a player," said Francis.

The York-born tight-head has played all his club rugby in England, but was recruited by coach Warren Gatland in 2015, qualifying through his grandmother from Abercrave.

He will win his 56th cap against Italy in Rome on Saturday.

That will leave him just short of the 60-cap mark needed to stay in England - he had faced having to give up his international career if he wanted to stay at the European and Gallagher Premiership champions.

After months of agonising over his future, Francis is looking on the bright side of moving to Ospreys and having a less hectic schedule during international periods.

"It's good for me, in the last few years I've used it as a positive to go back (to Exeter), refresh and come back, but the age I'm getting to, it would be good to be here (in Wales camp) in those weeks off and recondition," he told BBC Sport Wales.

Francis admits his contribution to the impending move has been mostly limited to negotiating a mortgage for a new home.

"I've been busy here (in Wales camp) so I haven't had much time to think about it," he said.

"There's still a lot of Premiership and European rugby left with Exeter, so I've got to give it my all to try to get picked there and hopefully get some more silverware to leave with.

"I'm excited about the next journey in my life and my girlfriend's from Wales so it'll be nice for her to be close to family, and hopefully the Ospreys are building something I can add to."

Ospreys have relied on South African Tom Botha and Tongan Ma'afu Fia to fill their number three jersey after moving Rhodri Jones back to his original loose-head role.

After being picked for his ability to maintain a stable scrum for Wales, Francis is now looking to contribute more in open play and with ball in hand under the regime of Wales coach Wayne Pivac.

"When I first came on the scene, a prop didn't have to do much, just have a solid scrum and go from ruck to ruck.

"But now it's about numbers, if you're on for 50 minutes you might have to top the rucks, tackles, breakdown areas, there's so much more to add to your game and it's exciting."

As he prepared to board the flight for Rome, Francis was looking forward to a first sight of spring weather with temperatures forecast of 15 to 17 degrees Celsius on match-day.

"When I was walking off training (in Wales) we had sideways hail, so it would be nice if there's a bit of sun and it's a bit warmer out there," he said.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Erica Enders made more history a year ago by becoming the first female in NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series history to win four world titles.

It was the second straight Pro Stock championship for Enders, who now has a goal to try and win three in a row and claim an impressive fifth world title.

A great start at this weekend’s 52nd annual AMALIE Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals at historic Gainesville Raceway would be ideal, especially considering it’s one of the few facilities where Enders, a 29-time event winner, hasn’t won in her Melling Performance/Elite Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro. Knowing the rich history the race has, it’s something she hopes to change.

“It’s definitely a cool time,” Enders said. “I’m really excited to head to Gainesville. It’s a really prestigious race, right up there with Indy. I’ve been a runner-up at Gainesville three times and never won, so I’m hopeful to check that off my bucket list. There’s no better time than now. We’ve got a great group and we’re going to give it our all. I’m excited about it.”

Steve Torrence (Top Fuel), Ron Capps (Funny Car), Alex Laughlin (Pro Stock), and Matt Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle) are defending winners of the NHRA Gatornationals.

After a longer than normal off-season, Enders is eager to get back to the track as well. She made a series of strong runs last week in Orlando leading up to the opener in Gainesville, which was her first time on track since clinching the championship in Las Vegas last November. But securing a first win in Gainesville won’t be easy, as a number of young stars are looking to knock Enders from the top spot in the class, including Troy Coughlin Jr., Kyle Koretsky, Fernando Cuadra Jr., Aaron Stanfield, last year’s winner event winner Laughlin and Mason McGaha, as well as veterans like Greg Anderson, Matt Hartford, Deric Kramer and Chris McGaha.

“We did absolutely zero off-season testing on the track, so I definitely felt good going (to Orlando) and being in a good spot,” Enders said. “We know our stuff works and we’ve got power. Again, Pro Stock is going to be a dogfight. There’s a lot of young blood in here.”

Smith is also a defending world champion and he won in Gainesville last September, which helped spur his run to a fourth world title on his Denso/Stockseth/MSR EBR. Matt Smith Racing expanded to four bikes this off-season, with Smith, his wife, Angie, Scotty Pollacheck and John Hall working together as part of a standout team. Pollacheck, Matt Smith and Angie Smith all won in 2020, and Matt Smith believes his team can keep that success going this year.

“We all won a race and we all went over 200 mph last year, so we’ve shown we know how to go fast, win races and compete for championships,” said Matt Smith, who has 26 career wins. “With four bikes, our goal is we all finish in the top 10, we all win races and hopefully one of us wins a championship. We race all out and we just want to win, and that’s our mentality.”

Matt Smith’s off-season consisted of refining the parts on the bikes with the hopes of being even more consistent. He knows the power is there, but things won’t be easy in a loaded class that also includes Angelle Sampey, Ryan Oehler, Hector Arana Jr. and Jerry Savoie. Smith, though, has always found success in Gainesville and loves being able to open the season there.

“This is one of my favorite tracks to come to and after working all winter long at home, it’s good to get back to the track,” Smith said. “We’re glad to see more and more fans at the track, and that’s what makes this sport so great. We can’t wait for the weekend.”

WELLINGTON, Fla. – Officials from Paul Richards Racing have announced that Guaranteed Rate has renewed its partnership of Dave Richards’ Ford Mustang.

The sponsorship will cover multiple races during the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season.

“We can’t wait to blast down the drag strip again this season with Dave Richards in the Guaranteed Rate Ford Mustang,” said Guaranteed Rate Chief Marketing Officer Steve Moffat. “It doesn’t get any more exciting than a 10,000 horsepower Funny Car going over 300 mph.”

“Our entire Paul Richards Racing team is thrilled to renew this partnership with Guaranteed Rate in 2021,” said team owner and driver Dave Richards. “They came on board last year and showed a strong presence on and off track. Everyone has been amazing to work with and we looked forward to continuing our relationship in 2021 and beyond. We are excited to get to Gainesville and get that Wally for everyone at Guaranteed Rate.”

The NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season begins this weekend with the NHRA Gatornationals.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – First it was a crack in an exhaust manifold, then it was a malfunctioning gearbox. But what happened before those mechanical problems at Daytona is serving as motivation for Sebring.

The speed they showed before the trouble in January at the Rolex 24 At Daytona – including a win in the Motul Pole Award 100 qualifying race – is motivating drivers Felipe Nasr, Pipo Derani, Mike Conway and the crew for the No. 31 Whelen Engineering Racing Cadillac DPi-V.R as they prepare for next week’s 69th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Presented by Advance Auto Parts.

“All in all, I think we’re going to be in good shape,” Nasr said. “It was just a misfortune (at Daytona), but I’m pretty sure Sebring will be a different story and we’re going to have a pretty competitive car. … I can’t wait to show up next week and prove it all.”

That confidence comes from the team’s recent success at Sebring International Raceway and an encouraging test last week at the 17-turn, 3.74-mile circuit.

“We’re taking the race pace at Daytona together with the fact that we’ve always been quick at Sebring and had a good test last week,” Derani said. “We’re turning that into positive thinking.”

The team had already worked through the exhaust problem in the opening hours of the Rolex 24 on Jan. 30-31 and didn’t find it a threat to contending for victory. But as Nasr shifted from third to fourth gear early in the morning, the car emitted a loud noise and lost drive.

“It came without warning,” Nasr said of the gearbox issue that necessitated a lengthy repair and saddled the No. 31 with a sixth-place Daytona Prototype international (DPi) class finish, 24 laps off the pace. “It was just one of those days. Racing can go both ways. It was hard to accept it. I’ve been around racing for a long time, and sometimes you just don’t have control over these things.”

A few weeks later, they’ve regained control. The two-day test last week at Sebring went well, with no recurring issues and the No. 31 car’s typical speed.

“It was good to go out testing last week,” Nasr said. “We were able to check off some of those boxes and take away any uncertainty about parts we have in the car. Everything ran pretty smooth.”

It’s not uncommon for the Nasr, Derani and No. 31 Action Express Racing entry to be smooth at Sebring. Derani has won the race three times – in 2016, ‘18 and ‘19 – and Nasr teamed with Derani in the No. 31 Cadillac to win in 2019. Last year, they won the Cadillac Grand Prix of Sebring sprint race in July and were in contention for much of the Twelve Hours in November.

“It’s a place any driver loves to drive, and we’ve had success there in the past – not very long ago, to be exact,” Derani said. “We were fighting for the lead last year almost until the end. It gives us the confidence and boost that we need to go get another win at Sebring.”

Cadillac, too, knows success at Sebring, having the 2019 victory and a 2017 victory by Wayne Taylor Racing to its credit. The car, drivers say, seems to have a knack for Sebring’s notorious bumpy surface.

“The bumps help a little bit,” Derani said. “We have a little bit of extra weight, so I think it helps us cope with the bumps better. It seems like we have a good car at Sebring, so we need to take advantage of that. The competition is very high and difficult, of course, so you don’t take anything for granted.”

In other words, it’s back to business as usual.

“I don’t think the objective is going to be any different,” Nasr said. “It’s to show up there and show the strength of our car.”

STATESVILLE, N.C. – Jessica Friesen will attempt to make her NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut when the series visits Bristol Motor Speedway for the Pinty’s Truck Race on Dirt on March 27.

Jessica Friesen will race the No. 62 Toyota Tundra for Halmar Friesen Racing as a teammate to her husband, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series regular and big-block modified star Stewart Friesen.

Should Jessica Friesen qualify for the race, it will be the first time that a husband and wife have raced against each other for the same race team. The two race against each other on a regular basis in modifieds in the Northeast.

The Friesens will be the second husband-wife duo to race against each other in the same NASCAR national event. Previously, Elton Sawyer and Patty Moise competed against each other in NASCAR events in the 1990s.

While her husband Stewart Friesen’s successful racing career is well documented, Jessica Friesen is no slouch behind the wheel. She’s raced in and won in sprint cars and modifieds.

“I’ve been racing sprint cars and modifieds on dirt for my entire racing career and it’s amazing to get an opportunity to compete at this level,” said Jessica Friesen. “I’m looking forward to the experience of driving a truck for the first time. The fact that this race is happening on dirt is really exciting. I couldn’t ask for a better group to work with than the team we’ve assembled at HFR.

“I want to thank everyone who has made this possible, including team owner Chris Larsen and all of our other sponsors who have supported me in the past in both dirt modifieds and sprint cars who have come back on board for this race.”

Among the sponsors Jessica Friesen will have on the No. 62 truck include Halmar Int’l, Parks Companies, A. Colarusso & Son, Corr Pak Merchandising, Tammy 10 Media, Hills Racing, One Zee Tees and CASP: The Council of Autism Service Providers.