No one can accurately predict what will occur with the reduced 165-player minor league roster limits, but baseball officials shared their predictions for 2024, many of which were repeatedly mentioned.
Almost everyone we asked expressed the belief that certain pitchers will benefit from the decrease in the overall number of arms each team can carry. A player chosen in later rounds or a less-heralded international signee who would have previously been assigned to a low-pressure relief role will now have the opportunity to either start or participate in a tandem-starter role due to the new roster restrictions. This is because teams will require them to handle more innings.
Given the chance to start and have a more consistent workload, some of these pitchers will demonstrate that they are deserving of a larger role. Some may even develop a new pitch that they wouldn’t have had the opportunity to work on in a smaller role. Others will stand out due to their ability to handle a greater workload without a decline in their performance.
This change should provide certain pitchers with the opportunity to showcase their skills.
“We will likely be surprised by a few individuals throughout the year. This is one of the positive aspects,” stated a pitching coach.
The utilization of piggyback starters in Class A has become increasingly popular in recent years. The concept involves having two pitchers each work four to five innings per outing, with the starting and middle innings roles alternating. By employing tandem starters, young pitchers are prevented from throwing too many pitches in a single start, while also allowing the team to keep more pitchers on track for development as starters.
This year, it may also serve as a valuable strategy for covering innings.
According to the Source baseballamerica.com