Rob Manfred drops bombshell on potential 'Golden At-Bat' rule change

Similar to other sports commissioners, Rob Manfred finds himself as a polarizing figure among MLB fans. Unlike other major American sports commissioners, Manfred has the unenviable task of changing some of the rules of baseball to draw in the younger generations.

Manfred has made several changes to the league in recent years with one of the most discussed being the implementation of the pitch clock. It appears that he and the league could potentially make one of the biggest changes to the game ever.

Manfred dropped hints about a "Golden At-Bat" rule that the league could look to potentially implement in the future. Baseball purists might riot given the extreme nature of the rule, even though it is much more of a concept than a structured idea. According to MLB insider Jayson Stark, Manfred said that there was buzz about the potential rule change at the owners' meetings.

While there are plenty of details that Manfred either did not dive into or even have the information, it is believed that the rule would allow a team to call upon one of its stars to bat in place of the regular scheduled hitter. This could mean that the LA Dodgers could turn to Shohei Ohtani in place of Chris Taylor.

This would undoubtedly be one of the biggest rule changes in league history. Although changes such as the universal designated hitter, run on second base in extra innings and prohibiting the defensive shift have all impacted the game, they are not specific cards that could be played.

When it comes to the "Golden At-Bat" rule, this could be an ace up the sleeve for managers, especially if they have a world-class batter able to step into the box. Having Bobby Witt Jr. come up in the bottom of the 9th inning with the bases loaded as opposed to a pinch-hitter off the bench could dramatically change the outcome of every game.

Rob Manfred has already faced backlash online from fans who have condemned the potential Golden At-Bat rule

Baseball is a sport that prides itself on its history, sometimes to a fault. This rule could change the game forever. It also erases the opportunity for iconic moments from players who are not exactly superstars. How would the MLB history books look if David Freese was not the one batting for the St. Louis Cardinals during his iconic 2011 World Series moments?

Rob Manfred's name has started trending online because of the rule idea. Fans have called for his job, while others have questioned the idea's logic in general. It's safe to say that if the "Golden At-Bat "gains any traction, the backlash will only continue to heat up online.