OFFICIAL: Theo Epstein Is Joining MLB's Commissioner's Office

Theo Epstein is joining MLB's Commissioner's Office to help advance the game on the field. The league announced the news after it was first reported by 670 The Score's Baseball Insider Bruce Levine.

Epstein stepped down as team president of the Cubs in November 2020. At his closing press conference, he called baseball 'the greatest game in the world' and had previously spoken about unintentional threats to the game created by the overuse of advanced analytics.

Epstein could push for a universal designated hitter in both leagues, moving the pitching mound back from 60 feet 6 inches to 61 feet, and expanding instant replay including calls on the strike zone. These changes are aimed at reducing strikeouts and making the game more exciting for fans.

Baseball's fanbase is aging, strikeout rates have soared to historic levels, and there are concerns about pitchers doctoring balls with substances to boost spin rates. The sport also lacks the in-game action like stolen bases and tag-ups that once made it exciting.

While advanced analytics helped teams and players improve performance, they also led to an overemphasis on strikeouts and fewer balls put in play, which has made the game less exciting. Epstein himself acknowledged in November 2020 that he and other owners unintentionally created these threats to the game's evolution.