How often have you scrolled down your Twitter/X feed to raging fans hollering about baseball's lack of marketing? "____ player should be much bigger than they are. What is MLB doing?!"
Today, baseball is taking a step in the right direction. Today marks the debut of MLB's new four-day event, "Spring Breakout." This is an exciting day for fans as we get to see the game's up-and-coming stars go toe-to-toe in matchups we otherwise wouldn't see. The best part? All games are live streamed on MLB's digital platforms and are blackout-free. Wait, what? MLB is making their games accessible? Is this a dream? It certainly feels like one.
If you're choosy and particular like me and you're into this kind of thing, the placement of Spring Breakout in the MLB calendar is perfect. We're in that spot of Spring Training where the excitement of winter ending and simply having live baseball, even though games don't count, has lost some of its luster. You love baseball as much as anyone, but now you're itching for the real thing.
Get us to 162.
But now, insert Spring Breakout in the backend of Spring Training - and while these, too, are exhibition games - you catch a second wind before getting to Opening Day. Yes, you see plenty of these stars play in "garbage time" during Spring anyway, but now they are playing against one another from inning one to inning *seven*, and they have a little more incentive to showcase why they are top prospects.
Photo by Cliff Welch of Getty Images
The dream matchup of Jackson Holliday vs.Paul Skenes, the last two #1 picks, becomes a reality—and it will actually be on a broadcast we can all watch. Their matchup earlier this Spring had fans questioning how MLB could squander such an opportunity, leaving us watching clips from scout's iPhones on Twitter/X. The video garnered 340,000 views at the time of this blog. Do you think we're excited to see them play?
MLB is also granting other wishes during the event.
Multiple venues will showcase the long-awaited robot umpires, just like the Futures Game did at last year's All-Star break, which allows teams to challenge balls and strikes seamlessly. Each team is permitted three challenges and will only lose challenge opportunities when the call in question is not reversed.
Also, the three-batter minimum is waived, allowing more pitchers to be seen during the shortened game format.
The Futures Game, a similar showcase of young talent, has found success over the years but isn't team-specific like Spring Breakout. This event is more streamlined and concentrated on organizational farm systems, allowing fans to witness their team grow right before their eyes.
In an era when the Majors needs to improve the game's logistics, this is another step in the right direction, and will be a blast. The league is finding success in rule changes and events, with upticks in attendance and an increase in baseball participation around the country. More people are getting into the sport, which is also a goal of From The Dish.
Now cancel your plans this weekend. Brock Porter is pitching in a few hours.
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