What is a ghost runner in college baseball? Taking a closer look at extra innings rules

The so-called ghost runner rule is one of the newer additions to the regulations of America's pastime. The rule was introduced amidst the COVID-19 pandemic to the MLB in 2020, and it started being implemented at the college level in 2021.

While newer changes, like bigger bases and the pitch clock, have since been implemented on the pro side of things, introducing the designated runner remains the newest addition to the NCAA rule book.

As a side note, college baseball has a pitch clock, but in this respect, the NCAA came before the MLB. Since 2011, the pitch clock has been mandatory across all divisions of college baseball.

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What is the Ghost Runner rule?

After the ninth inning, all half innings will start with a runner in second base. This rule was initially instituted at the MLB level in 2020, and it was kept in place for the following two seasons.

Ahead of the 2023 season, the MLB's Joint Competition Committee voted to make the rule a permanent one, among the new rules aiming to shorten the lengths of games.

The rule has been a fixture of baseball across all levels. Even the Caribbean Winter Leagues and the Caribbean Series (a short winter tournament pitting the winners of all the Winter Leagues) have implemented it. College baseball didn't stay far behind, with the NCAA implementing the rule from 2021 onwards.

The rule isn't implemented during the postseason games, neither at the MLB or NCAA level, to keep the games as exciting as possible.

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Criticisms of the Ghost Runner rule

Baseball has lately struggled to remain relevant against its bigger siblings in traditional American sports, football and basketball. That has meant that the game has gone through more rule changes in the last four years than it had in the prior one hundred years.

The changes have aimed to make the game more fast-paced and shorter in overall length. The innovations haven't been without criticisms, though.

The ghost runner rule has been among the most belittled by traditional fans as not being true baseball. According to traditional fans, the rule takes away from the excitement of a traditional baseball extra inning and turns the affair into a glorified bunting contest.

With a runner in second in each extra inning, the sacrifice bunting to put players first on third and then to attempt to get the home plate become all the more usual.