Playoff format
In 2025, the Appalachian League will again feature an expanded postseason schedule. The league added an additional playoff round in 2024 played before the Championship Game. Under the new format, the team with the best winning percentage in each division hosts the team in its division with the second-best winning percentage. The winners will meet in the Championship Game. In even-numbered years, the East Division hosts the game, while in odd-numbered years, the West Division hosts.
Pitch clock
In 2025, the Appalachian League will follow the NCAA baseball rule book’s description of the pitch clock. A pitcher is allowed 20 seconds to begin the motion to deliver the pitch; if the pitcher does not begin the motion to deliver the pitch prior to the timer reaching “0”, the pitcher will have violated the rule, and the umpire shall award a ball. If the batter does not enter the box and become alert to the pitcher with five or more seconds remaining, the batter will have violated the rule and the umpire shall award a strike without the pitcher having to deliver the pitch. Between innings, teams have 120 seconds to be ready for the first pitch (pitcher holding the ball and touching the pitcher’s plate and a batter standing in the batter’s box ready to hit).
Extra innings
In 2022, the Appalachian League implemented a “sudden death” extra-innings format similar to the Frontier League and MLB Draft League. At the conclusion of regulation in a tie game, the home team manager will determine if they want to play offense or defense. For the team on offense, the player on the lineup card immediately preceding the batter due up will be placed on first base. The defensive team will have three outs to prevent the offense from scoring. If the team on offense scores, they will win the game. If the defensive team retires the side without allowing a run, they will win the game. The sudden death rule guarantees that no game will be played beyond 9.5 innings or beyond 7.5 innings for a doubleheader or Sunday game. More on extra innings.
Seven-inning games
All games played on Sundays and all doubleheaders will be scheduled for seven innings.