Manfred: Golden at-bat rule not coming to MLB anytime soon

Commissioner Rob Manfred isn't expecting the golden at-bat rule to be instituted in MLB in the near future.

The rule would give each team one opportunity per contest to send any hitter in the lineup to the plate, even if it's not that player's turn in the order.

"To go from the conversation stage to this actually showing up in MLB is a very long road," Manfred said Thursday, according to ESPN's Jesse Rogers. "You don't like the idea? I wouldn't be too concerned about it right now."

MLB has been more open to making changes to the game over the past few years under Manfred's leadership. The league adopted the universal designated hitter, implemented a pitch clock, and is planning to test a challenge system at this year's spring training.

Despite some growing buzz surrounding the golden at-bat rule, Manfred reiterated that he doesn't want to bring it to MLB.

"It has come out that I have spoken publicly about this kind of change years ago, that I was not particularly in favor of it," Manfred said. "That remains the case."

Manfred's current five-year contract runs through the 2028 season and he has publicly said that he expects to step down in January 2029.