What To Expect – Majors

Majors Players are selected through a try-out and draft process as outlined in the Little League Operating Handbook. At Layritz, baseball players who are 9, 10, 11, or 12 years old (by September 1) may participate in tryouts, which are held in February  each year as announced. Players are rated on a variety of baseball skills.

Note: This year all 12-year-olds who attend these tryouts will be playing in the Major Division. Only the 12-year-olds who do not attend, or choose not to play in Majors will continue to play in the Minor Division.

Team Selection: Players from the draft list will be selected until all the Major League teams have the required number of players. The remainder will be placed on a standby list and if during the season, a Major League team permanently loses a player for some reason, the next eligible player on the draft may be called up from the Minor League to play on that team (see also “borrowing” in the general ground rules section).

Rules: Major League Baseball Rules are contained in the Little League Baseball Official Regulations and Playing Rules manual. In addition to the general ground rules for all divisions, the following also apply to Major Baseball.

Playing Time: All players will play a minimum of three innings defensively and offensively. If a game is called before this is possible, the player or players who are short of this minimum requirement will be in the starting lineup of the next game. Every player must play ONE full game out of every TWO attended. This does not include the playoffs. Best practice is that no player should sit for two consecutive innings.

Knowledge of Rules: At this level of play it is incumbent upon managers and coaches to be very knowledgeable of all the rules and regulations of Little League Baseball. This knowledge will assist in reducing conflict that may arise as a result of misinterpretation or misapplication of the rules.

Completed Games: During a six inning game, a completed game is one of the following: four completed innings or three and one-half if the home team is ahead, or a six inning game. The only way a game is not to go six full innings is because of bad weather, time limit (see general rules), or darkness. Or if a team is 10 runs ahead upon completion of four full innings, the game shall be called by the umpire. 

Batter Warm-up is no longer allowed. After a hit or walk, batters should drop their bat somewhere near home plate. A player may be called out for throwing their bat. Team members leaving the dugout to pick up bats must be in regular uniform and wear a helmet.

Pitcher Rotation: The following pitching rules apply at Layritz:
a) any player on the team roster may pitch; and
b) a Pitcher must follow the pitch count rules
c) a Pitcher once removed from that position, may not return as pitcher during the game
d) delivery of a single pitch constitutes an inning pitched
e) any player who has played the position of catcher in 4 or more innings in a game is not eligible to pitch on that calendar day
f) if a pitcher pitches more than 40 pitches in a game, they are not eligible to catch for the remainder of that calendar day

General Comments: In Major Baseball there is no guarantee that players will have an opportunity to play in a variety of defensive positions and may not have the opportunity to move up in the batting order. Although each child will have equal opportunity for playing time, the manager does have the authority to reduce playing time for disciplinary reasons. If discipline has to be administered, the manager of the team involved will inform the Director of the Division and the reasons for the disciplinary action.