According to the MLB, the Baseball Playing Rules Committee has sent a few experimental rule changes out to the NWL and Gulf Coast League to be used for the coming season. They’re not dramatic changes, rather, they’re more about speeding up the game a little.

New language inserted into Rule 8.04, which regulates the time that
a pitcher has to pitch, has been amended to increase the time within
which a pitcher must pitch from 12 to 15 seconds, but the timing will
begin when the pitcher receives the ball without regard for whether the
batter is ready for the pitch.

If the batter has had a reasonable opportunity to get ready and is not
ready, he would be at risk for having the pitcher pitch, or, if the
batter is out of the batter’s box, for having an automatic strike
called, as set forth in Rules 6.02(c) and (d).

Prediction: We’re going to see a few batters (especially those who sign their contracts late) take their sweet time at the batter’s box and get buzzed by pitches they’re not looking at… Which I’m perfectly okay with. 

Another rule change will limit the number of visits to the mound by managers, coaches and infielders.

Any combination of three or more manager/coach visits to the mound in a
game without removing the pitcher will result in the automatic removal
of the pitcher from the game on a fourth visit, regardless of whether
prior visits were to the same or different pitcher(s). Additionally, no
more than one infielder at a time is permitted to visit the mound,
including during any visit by a manager or coach.

Prediction: An officious sod, most likely working for the Spokane Indians, will keep a count on mound visits the first time a starter gets a stitch, or gets hit by a liner and needs a trainer to come look at him. Stand by for a few unwanted third inning pitcher-pulls.

There’s also a third rule change, which says that on-field coaches can’t come closer to the plate than the near-edge of the coach’s box, and can’t come nearer to the field than the box itself. That’ll be enforced for, oh, about a week - or the first time a close call at first requires some chest-bumping on the ump.

Personally, I’d like to see a fourth rule change, which says that a Spokane pitcher gets tossed after hitting their third batter. Getting a little sick of seeing that organization beaning eight batters in a game without anyone being ejected, you know?