A batter in the Atlantic League became the first-ever professional baseball player to steal first base Saturday.
Thanks to an experimental rule change in the Atlantic League, Tony Thomas of the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs stole first off a wild pitch in the sixth inning of Saturday's game vs. the Lancaster Barnstormers.
In partnership with Major League Baseball, the Atlantic League just implemented a rule that states players may steal first base on "any pitch not caught in flight." The batter can be thrown out if he attempts to steal the base.
The Atlantic League is also experimenting with a new umpiring system, in which an automated system, rather than a home-plate umpire, calls balls and strikes.
For the first time in baseball history a player stole first base thanks to the Atlantic League-MLB partnership rule changes! @ESPNAssignDesk pic.twitter.com/yj4FkcZg6O
— SoMD Blue Crabs (@BlueCrabs) July 14, 2019
