The 2022 Major League Baseball season (MLB) was originally scheduled to begin on March 31 and end on October 2.
Under the new CBA, universal designated hitter was adopted, the postseason was expanded to 12 teams, and the regular season tie-breaker game was eliminated.
[4] On December 2, 2021, MLB owners voted unanimously to enact a lockout upon the expiration of the 2016 collective bargaining agreement between the league and the players' union.
Issues raised between the league and union involved compensation for young players, as well as limitations on tanking to receive higher selections in the MLB draft.
[5] On March 10, 2022, almost 100 days after the beginning of the lockout, MLB and the MLBPA reached a deal on a new, five-year CBA.
[9][10] The MLB at Field of Dreams game returned for a second year, featuring the Chicago Cubs and the Cincinnati Reds at the purpose-built ballpark in Dyersville, Iowa, on August 11.
The annual MLB Little League Classic featured the Boston Red Sox and the Baltimore Orioles at Bowman Field in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, on August 21.
Each requires incoming travelers who are not citizens to have received a full course of an approved COVID-19 vaccine no later than 14 days before entry into the respective country.
[13][14] On March 10, Major League Baseball announced the following rule changes for the 2022 season:[15] On March 22, MLB introduced a set of temporary rules for 2022:[16] On April 5, the league announced that all teams may use PitchCom, a wireless system for catchers to request pitches by type and location.
[20] Spring training for the 2022 season began later than usual due to the lockout, beginning in mid-March and lasted into early April.
[21] Prior to the start of the regular season, each team played between 14 and 22 spring training games, beginning on March 17.
[36] On October 10, the Phillies removed the interim tag from Thomson and signed him to a two-year contract extension for the 2023 and 2024 seasons.
[41] On October 21, the Rangers announced Bruce Bochy as the 20th manager in franchise history, signing a three-year deal.
[42] Cairo, the current bench coach, was named as the interim manager on the same day La Russa was first ruled out on August 31.
[169][170] These teams join the Arizona Diamondbacks, Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, Miami Marlins, and the San Francisco Giants who unveiled their City Connect uniforms during the prior season.