The Little League World Collection doesn’t function 9-man batting lineups. As a substitute, the Little League World Collection forces each group to bat each participant on their roster. Which means you may usually see 11 or 12-man batting lineups. The perfect hitters on every group may solely stand up twice per sport.
Beginning with the 2023 season, Little League Worldwide simplified its Event Obligatory Play requirement to require all groups to make the most of a Steady Batting Order – that means everybody bats.
Commercial
Little League defined the change.
“Whereas essential to the spirit of Little League, the earlier Event Obligatory Play Requirement had totally different necessities based mostly on the variety of gamers on a roster, essential benchmarks all through the sport the place substitutes wanted to be entered into the sport, and had been advanced for coaches, scorekeepers, and umpires to trace all through the sport. This led to many Obligatory Play violations, each unintentional and intentional. Since 2018, the penalty for these violations was the elimination of the supervisor for the rest of the event, which led to many adverse experiences for gamers, households, and communities, which is the antithesis of the Little League expertise,” Little League defined.
“After discussions with the Little League Worldwide Advisory Board, Little League Worldwide Board of Administrators together with the Operations and Guidelines Committees, and inner workers, steady batting order was proposed as a technique to nonetheless be certain that all gamers on a event group had a chance to have a significant taking part in expertise via the Event Obligatory Play Requirement.”
Commercial
However not everyone seems to be a fan.
SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, PENNSYLVANIA – AUGUST 20: A basic view from the stands throughout a Little League World Collection sport at Lamade Stadium on August 20, 2023 in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania. (Photograph by Rob Carr/Getty Photos)Rob Carr/Getty Photos
Some are urging Little League to return to 9-man batting orders, so one of the best hitters can get extra at-bats.
“I might say it is extra now having to bat your entire roster. The perfect hitters don’t get up as usually as they used to,” one fan mentioned in response to the speculation that heavier bats are making it tougher to hit.
“That is worst rule in all of sports activities,” Barstool Sports activities’ Rico Bosco added.
Followers debating LLWS batting order rule
Whereas some dislike it, others say it is for one of the best.
Commercial
“You guys are ridiculous. This is not MLB. They modified this rule few years again bc you had children sitting the bench 5 innings. Cease worrying about wins and losses. They’re 12yrs outdated n it is about growing and creating an expertise,” one wrote.
“Sincere query is there a mandated roster dimension as a result of I’d assume this rule would tempt some groups to roll with 10,” one fan added.
“They’re 11/12 yr olds… When you assume letting all of them take part is “the worst rule in all of sports activities” please do us all a favor and…,” one fan added.
Commercial
“We’re speaking about 11-12 yr olds. Have some perspective. These children lose their whole summers for this and will play within the video games. I performed in it one yr, and got here a sport quick one other. The children who did not play had been heartbroken. One by no means picked a baseball up once more,” one fan added.
Ought to the LLWS preserve or change the rule?
This story was initially printed by The Spun on Aug 24, 2026, the place it first appeared within the MLB part. Add The Spun as a Most popular Supply by clicking right here.