MLB's Rob Manfred: Golden At-Bat Rule Change Was 'Very Preliminary Conversation'

The potential golden at-bat rule may not be as far along as previously anticipated.

MLB commissioner Rob Manfred revealed in November that there was "some buzz" about the aforementioned rule, which would allow teams to "send any hitter of their choosing to the plate, regardless of their spot in the batting order, once per game." He clarified those comments on Thursday, saying the discussions were "preliminary."

"It was a very preliminary conversation which did create some buzz," Manfred said, per Jesse Rogers of ESPN. "I do encourage the owners to have conversations about the game."

He also acknowledged that a rule like that would be years away and would require significant testing.

"To go from the conversation stage to this actually showing up in MLB is a very long road," Manfred told the Yes Network on Thursday. "You don't like the idea? I wouldn't be too concerned about it right now."

Manfred also acknowledged that he is not personally a fan of the potential change.

"It has come out that I have spoken publicly about this kind of change years ago, that I was not particularly in favor of it," Manfred said, per Rogers "That remains the case."

MLB has undergone several rule changes in Manfred's tenure, including the addition of a pitch clock, the runner on second base rule in extra innings and the three-batter minimum for pitchers.

Those rules have changed the way the game has been played but the golden at-bat rule would be an extremely drastic change.