[Official] 'Will there be more home runs?' Finally landed the KBO 'torpedo bat' and announced that it will be available from this season. 'Revealing the changes in the 2026 KBO League.'

*This content was translated by AI.

The opening of the 2026 KBO League, which was preheated for 12 days of exhibition games from March 12, is just two days away.

The regulations that will be newly introduced and changed in the KBO League from this season to strengthen the fairness of the league and introduce more exciting baseball are as follows.

▲ Implementation of the Asian Quarter System

The Asian quarter system will be implemented from this year. The Asian quarter system for strengthening KBO league competitiveness and smooth supply and demand of foreign players will be targeted to all Asian nationals (based on countries belonging to the Asian Baseball Federation BFA) and Australian players. Recruitment of dual nationality players with nationality of non-Asian countries is not possible and is limited to one player who was a member of the Asian League immediately before or in the relevant year. The player's position is irrelevant.

In addition, the maximum cost of new recruitment will be limited to up to $200,000 (up to $20,000 per month), including annual salary, down payment, special contract (based on actual option payment) and transfer fees (tax excluded) paid to original teams. When renewing the contract, the player's annual salary can be raised by $100,000 every year. The club can have a total of four players, including three existing foreign players, up to the Asian quarter system, and all of these players can play in one game.

▲ Reduce pitch clock time

The pitch clock time is shortened. It is shortened by 2 seconds from 20 seconds between pitches when there is no existing runner and 25 seconds to 18 seconds and 23 seconds, respectively, when there is a runner. The pitch clock operation of the Futures League will be the same as last year.

▲ Introduction of wireless intercom

The wireless intercom system will be introduced from this season to reduce video reading time and strengthen judgment explanations.

In the event of a video reading situation, communication with the reading center and in-house broadcasting are possible without moving the equipment being worn. Wireless intercoms will be worn by the 1st and 2nd base judges, and if the referee team leader does not wear equipment, the highest experienced judge among the worn referees will play the role of the referee team leader related to video reading.

▲ Improvement of the video reading system

Strategic overruns that occur at second and third bases will also be newly added to the video review target. Even if the out decision is reversed to safe through video reading in a force play situation, if the runner occupies the base or does not make a legitimate attempt to advance to the next base, it may be determined as out by giving up running. However, this does not apply if the act is affected by the referee's declaration of out judgment.

Whether or not the leading runner's score was made before the runner gave up the second or third base is determined based on the time when the runner passes the back of the second or third base and two feet touch the ground.

In addition, if a clear judgment error is identified in another play apart from the corresponding reading during the video reading process, the reading of the situation will also proceed. If a clear error is found in a separate play other than the item applied by the club while reading the target play for which the club has applied for a reading, the decision on that play can be corrected.

▲ Improvement of the injured list regulations

Regarding the regulation on the injured list, which allowed only players registered for at least one day as active players to apply for the injured list, the change was made to allow application and registration of injuries that occurred during games and training after the opening day of the exhibition game if they apply within three days of the opening day of the opening game.

In addition, applicants for the extension of the injured list for the same injury will be allowed to re-register as active players even if 10 days have not passed since the application for extension, and if a player whose active player registration has been canceled for more than 30 days due to an obvious injury misses the application for the injured list, the relevant evidence will be submitted and explained by the end of the postseason of the season, and if the KBO approves it, it will be revised to retroactively apply the recognition of the number of registration days only three times a year per team.

▲ Double header cannot be configured in a row

I changed the doubleheader to make it impossible to organize for two consecutive weeks. Double headers can only be scheduled from April 12 to May 31, and only if Saturday's game is canceled will be scheduled on Sunday. The doubleheader will be held only up to nine innings, and a special entry will also be implemented that allows two additional players to be registered on the day of the game.

▲ Change KBO Bat Authorized Regulations

Among the KBO bat accreditation regulations, the exception rule, which permits the use of bats that are not distributed through authorized companies, has been deleted, and additional accreditation procedures have been established during the season, allowing additional applications until August 31 during the season in addition to the existing regular accreditation application period (January).

In addition, torpedo bats will also be available in the KBO league for the first time since this season. Attention is also focusing on whether more home runs will be hit.

▲ an increase in the number of players belonging to

In order to strengthen the flexibility of team management and the stability of league management, the number of players has been increased from 65 to 68. During the season, the team expanded its options for each club in terms of injuries, condition management and power management, and expanded the number of players in consideration of the fact that entries will be expanded (29 people) from 2026 due to the introduction of the Asian quarter system.

▲ Expand the interpretation of obstruction of running water

In relation to the expansion of the interpretation of the obstruction of base, one base right that is applied in the event of obstruction of base under baseball rule 6.01(h) is applied equally to the check situation. Until now, the KBO League has applied the return to the existing base in the event of obstruction of base running during checks, but from the 2026 season, one base is granted even in situations where checks are attempted.

▲ Strengthen sanctions in case of defense shift violations

If the infielder touches the in-play ball for the first time in a defensive shift violation, the offensive team can choose between "the batter's first base on base and the runner's one base on base" or "maintain the play result." In this case, an error is recorded on the defender who violated it, and the at-bat is not recorded as a hitter. In other defensive shift violations, automatic ball or play results can be selected as before.

▲ Pauline Standard Uniformity

In order to improve the clarity and accuracy of the decision, the width of the foul line different for each stadium will be changed from the existing 3 inches (7.62 cm) to 4 inches (10.16 cm), and the line width of the entire stadium will be the same.

▲ Advertising behind the mound is allowed

Starting this season, real advertisements will be allowed only for positions that are not in the view of the referee and batter on the back of the mound. Advertisements can be installed in the form of spray paint, choke, soil, etc., and the standard is limited to 60cm in height, within 1.5m in length, and white in color. The referee may order adjustments if he/she determines that the form and location of the advertisement before the game interferes with the progress of the game.

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*This content was translated by AI.