MLB testing outfield positioning rules in minors as quest for more offense continues

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Minnesota Twins prospect Kyle DeBarge walks a few steps to a worn-out patch of grass while playing center field during a recent Arizona Fall League game at Salt River Fields, glancing up at a small video board that lets him know if he’s in the right spot.A few steps to his left, right, front or back and a big red “X” appears on the video board above home plate. That’s not good.If he stays on that little island of dirt in a sea of grass, a big ‘O’ appears and the video board is green. Much better.Welcome to Major League Baseball’s newest experiment in its long-running quest to juice the game’s sluggish offense: Restricting the positioning of outfielders on every at-bat. The idea is that making outfielders play straight up — instead of adjusting for individual hitters’ tendencies — will lead to more doubles and triples.“The hardest part is cutting off doubles in the gap and they’re even turning into triples,” DeBarge said. “That’s what they told us they wanted in