MLB Will Have Minor League Experiment With Moving Back Mound

NEW YORK -- AP -- Major League Baseball wants to see if moving back the pitcher's mound will increase offense. MLB will experiment with a 12-inch greater distance between the mound and home plate during a portion of the Atlantic League season in an effort to decrease strikeouts and increase offense.

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The pitching rubber will be moved back to 61 feet, 6 inches starting Aug. 3 during the second half of the independent minor league's season. In addition, the MLB partner league will have an experimental "double-hook DH" rule in which a team would lose its designated hitter when its starting pitcher leaves.