Why did Major League Baseball enlarge its bases in 2023?

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Freddie Freeman of the Los Angeles Dodgers, wearing a white uniform and helmet, watches his hit while holding a bat during a game at Dodger Stadium. — Baseball Freddie Freeman, shown here in a 2023 game, was named World Series MVP in 2024 after hitting four home runs and driving in 12 runs for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Major League Baseball (MLB) enlarged its bases in 2023, increasing them from 15 inches to 18 inches on each side, as part of a broader effort to make the sport more exciting for fans by boosting offense.1

This change serves two primary purposes:
* Larger Target: It provides base-stealers with a bigger target to reach.
* Reduced Distance: It slightly decreases the distance a runner must travel to reach the base safely.1

These adjustments, alongside the elimination of the defensive shift, were implemented to increase offensive activity. The results were evident in 2023, as stolen base attempts and successful steals both increased compared to the previous season.1