MLB down period aims to ease amateur 'pressure'

"In a seven-page document distributed to high-ranking personnel with all 30 MLB teams, the league said it hoped its Amateur Recovery Period Policy -- which covers high school juniors and seniors from Oct. 15 to Jan. 15 and college players from Nov. 15 to Jan. 15 -- will "alleviate the pressure on young players to forego rest and recovery, curb overuse, and keep players healthier as they strive for a future in professional baseball.""

"During the down period, team employees will be barred from seeing any player covered by the policy in a baseball setting or from trying to procure video or third-party data on players, according to the memo. Should employees run afoul of the policy, the memo said, they could be fined, suspended or placed permanently on the game's ineligible list while their teams could face sanctions in the draft or international amateur signings."

"The policy forbids team employees from seeing games, showcases, training sessions "and any other activities related to throwing, hitting, catching or fielding." Video as well as ball-tracking, bat-tracking and biomechanical data are likewise outlawed during what the league deemed a "recovery period." "MLB encourages players to use this period for rest, recovery and training for next season, rather than for high-intensity, maximum-effort activities," the memo said."

MLB is instituting an Amateur Recovery Period Policy that bars team officials from watching or collecting data on covered amateur players during winter downtime to reduce injury risk. The policy covers high school juniors and seniors from Oct. 15 to Jan. 15 and college players from Nov. 15 to Jan. 15. During the period, team employees cannot attend baseball activities or obtain video, ball-tracking, bat-tracking, or biomechanical data. Violations can bring fines, suspensions, permanent ineligibility for employees and draft or international-signing penalties for teams. The policy arose from a pitching-injury report and expert advice to limit overuse and encourage rest.

Read at ESPN.com