One of the most exciting parts of baseball is a game going into extra innings. In MLB games, extra innings can go on-and-on like an Erykah Badu song.
For a lengthy, six-month MLB season, extra innings are cool. An uncanny experience for baseball fans, especially those that witness the extended game live at a ballpark. MLB officially instituted the “ghost runner” for the 2023 regular season, but the rule placing a free runner on second base to start extra innings had been used since the 2020 COVID season.
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The World Baseball Classic also adopted the rule, but it it will be used all the way through the tournament, whereas MLB reverts to traditional extra-inning rules in the postseason.
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United States shortstop Gunnar Henderson (11) celebrates after hitting a two-run double against Great Britain during the fifth inning at Daikin Park on Mar 7, 2026.
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See energy and national pride overflow at World Baseball Classic
United States shortstop Gunnar Henderson (11) celebrates after hitting a two-run double against Great Britain during the fifth inning at Daikin Park on Mar 7, 2026.
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Shohei Ohtani of Team Japan is forced out after the grounder of Kensuke Kondo #8 of Team Japan in the seventh inning during the 2026 World Baseball Classic Pool C game between Australia and Japan at Tokyo Dome on March 8, 2026 in Tokyo, Japan.
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Fans celebrate Taiwan’s victory after the World Baseball Classic (WBC) Pool C game between Taiwan and South Korea at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo on March 8, 2026.
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Taiwan players celebrate after winning their game against South Korea on March 8, 2026 at the Tokyo Dome, Tokyo, Japan.
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Taiwan’s Shao-Hung Chiang (R) tags out South Korea’s Kim Ju-won at home plate during the World Baseball Classic (WBC) Pool C game between Taiwan and South Korea at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo on March 8, 2026.
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Fans hold up Korean national flags as they stand for the national anthem prior to the 2026 World Baseball Classic Pool C game between Chinese Taipei and South Korea at Tokyo Dome on March 8, 2026 in Tokyo, Japan.
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United States shortstop Gunnar Henderson (11), right fielder Roman Anthony (3) and center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong (4) celebrate after the game against Great Britain at Daikin Park.
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Venezuela first baseman Luis Arraez reacts from second base after hitting a double against Israel during the eighth inning at loanDepot Park on March 7, 2026 in Miami.
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Bo Gyeong Moon of Team Republic of Korea collides with fence in the seventh inning during the 2026 World Baseball Classic Pool C game between South Korea and Japan at Tokyo Dome on March 7, 2026 in Tokyo, Japan.
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Venezuela center fielder Javier Sanoja reacts from third base against Israel during the seventh inning at loanDepot Park on March 7, 2026 in Miami.
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Venezuela first baseman Luis Arraez (2) celebrates with catcher Salvador Perez (13) after hitting a two-run home run against Israel during the sixth inning at loanDepot Park on March 7, 2026 in Miami.
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Italy pitcher Gordon Graceffo (44) reacts after getting an out during the seventh inning against Brazil at Daikin Park on March 7, 2026 in Houston.
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Dominican Republic center fielder Oneil Cruz (15) celebrates his three-run home run in the eighth inning against Nicaragua with teammates at loanDepot Park on March 6, 2026 in Miami.
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Brazil first baseman Dante Bichette Jr. (77) looks on from the dugout during the third inning against the United States at Daikin Park on March 6, 2026 in Houston
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Seiya Suzuki #51 of Team Japan celebrates scoring a run by a RBI triple of Masataka Yoshida #34 (not pictured) in the second inning during the 2026 World Baseball Classic Pool C game between Japan and Chinese Taipei at Tokyo Dome on March 6, 2026 in Tokyo, Japan.
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Venezuelan baseball fans show their support for their team against the Netherlands at loanDepot Park on March 6, 2026 in Miami.
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Brazil shortstop Vitor Ito (1) throws to first on an infield single by United States shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. (not pictured) during the first inning at Daikin Park on March 6 in Houston.
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Fans cheer as Mexico center fielder Alek Thomas (5) slides to score a run during the ninth inning against Great Britain at Daikin Park on March 6, 2026 in Houston.
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Mexico first baseman Jonathan Aranda (8) celebrates with right fielder Jarren Duran (16) after. hitting a home run during the eighth inning against Great Britain at Daikin Park on March 6, 2026 in Houston.
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Robbie Perkins #9 of Team Australia is tagged out at home by Martin Cervenka #55 of Team Czechia in the ninth inning during the 2026 World Baseball Classic Pool C game between Australia and Czechia at Tokyo Dome on March 6, 2026 in Tokyo, Japan.
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Ronald Acu–a Jr. of Team Venezuela throws hit bat after getting walked during the fifth inning of a 2026 World Baseball Classic Pool D game against Team Kingdom of the Netherlands at loanDepot park on March 6, 2026 in Miami, Florida.
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Venezuela outfielder Ronald Acu–a Jr. celebrates scoring a run in the first inning against the Netherlands at loanDepot Park on March 6, 2026 in Miami.
More: 2026 World Baseball Classic rules: Is there a ghost runner in extra innings?
Understanding extra innings rule during WBC
The WBC comes with a separate set of rules including pitch count limits and mercy rule regulations.
The tournament also follows MLB’s regular-season extra-inning rules, with a runner starting on second base beginning in the 10th inning.
The “ghost runner” in extra innings will be deployed all the way through the tournament, whereas MLB does not use the rule in the postseason.
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Pitch clock rules during WBC
This is the first year that the WBC has introduced a pitch clock.
It mirrors the MLB pitch clock rule which if the bases are empty, pitchers have 15 seconds to throw to batters. And with at least one runner on base, pitchers have 18 seconds to send the ball across home plate.
Additionally, batters have to be ready and in the box with at least eight seconds on the clock.
Is there pitch count limit in the WBC?
Pitchers are capped at 65 pitches through the first round of the tournament. That number increases to 80 pitches for the quarter and semifinals, topping out at 95 pitches for the championship game.
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Although limited at 95 pitches, pitchers can pass the mark if needed to complete a batter’s plate appearance.
Pitchers who exceed the allotted pitch amount in one game will be forced to use ensuing days for rest, depending on how many pitches were thrown. If a pitcher throws 50 or more pitches, then he will sit for at least four days before he can pitch again. If the number is 30 or more, then a player has to rest for a day.
No matter the pitch count, pitchers who throw on consecutive days will be required to rest for a day before competing again.
What’s the mercy rule for WBC?
There’s a mercy rule during only the first and quarterfinal rounds.
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The rule states that the game will after the 7th inning if a team leads by 10 or more runs. The game will conclude after the 5th inning if a team leads by 15 or more runs.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: World Baseball Classic rules: Extra innings, pitch count, mercy rule for WBC
