Intentional walks were once a drawn-out ritual, with four wide pitches to signal surrender. In 2017, however, MLB streamlined the process: now, a manager flashes four fingers and the batter takes first. On paper, it’s saved time, but in practice, it’s deprived fans of watching their favorite hitters swing in the biggest moments. “I want to get rid of the intentional walk,” Jomboy Media co-creator and analyst Jake Storiale told Trevor Plouffe: “What if there was a rule that if you threw four straight balls, you got a runner on first, and the batter could stay if they wanted?… So if the pitcher throws four non-competitive pitches, the batter can choose if they could stay up.”

A rule allowing hitters to challenge or override intentional walks could revolutionize MLB’s offensive strategy. Judge, for example, is often walked when there are high-stakes situations, something fans pay to see. For rising talents like Wood, who intentionally walked four times in one game, his exposure is limited. “That stinks,” Storiale stated bluntly: “I want to see James hit.”

It’s true, and the Nationals outfielder and the Yankees captain aren’t the only examples. Mariners’ Cal Raleigh, known for late-game power, often sees the bat taken out of his hands due to matchup-based evasion. Challenging walks would also give young sluggers more at-bats under pressure, critical for growth and fan connection.

How new rules affect the game

Before 2017, intentional walks at least came with a sliver of unpredictability. Pitchers were still expected to deliver four live balls, leaving room for wild pitches, stolen bases, or even ambush swings. The shift to an automatic walk was intended to speed up games. However, it has also eliminated one of the few remaining chances to disrupt an otherwise heavily controlled situation. One of baseball’s dramatic tipping points is now reduced to a formality. It also deprives fans of a confrontation that might have tilted the inning.

As MLB shifts toward faster, intentional walks now feel like an outdated workaround. They represent managerial conservatism in an era increasingly defined by action. In a league where highlights drive engagement, pitch-around strategies often rob broadcasts of what should be the most compelling camera moments. After all, it’s a star hitter staring down a game on the line.

Challenging walks would also give young sluggers more at-bats under pressure, critical for growth and fan connection. Avoidance-based pitching and more accountability from pitchers facing emerging threats could also become a common occurrence.

Overall, allowing hitters to contest intentional walks could make MLB more dynamic, developmental, and marketable. It may also boost offensive action while keeping star players in the spotlight. However, any real change would be up to the playing rules committee. While automatic IBBs passed easily in 2016, the committee’s openness to small adjustments could suggest further iterations on the table, especially if there’s interest in re-introducing competitive dynamics to the game.