STLtoday.com

Why do they only use MLB balls in AAA and MLB? I have heard several young pitchers say the wall in AAA is because of the ball change. This seems odd to me. Just have A and AA use the right ball seems obvious.

I don't know the details but I assume it has something to do with $$$, bc that's what fundamentally motivates all of Manfred's decisions, a great many of which are dumb.

3dender wrote: ↑08 Aug 2025 11:21 am I don't know the details but I assume it has something to do with $$$, bc that's what fundamentally motivates all of Manfred's decisions, a great many of which are dumb.

That's what I would think, cost.

Plus I've thrown a lower level ball before, the seams seemed larger than a ML ball.

Youboughtit wrote: ↑08 Aug 2025 11:11 am Why do they only use MLB balls in AAA and MLB? I have heard several young pitchers say the wall in AAA is because of the ball change. This seems odd to me. Just have A and AA use the right ball seems obvious.

They use fewer balls in the minors so they're meant to be more durable with wider tolerances. I gather that they're also markedly cheaper... made in China whereas AAA and big league balls are made by Rawlings in Costa Rica.