Document Type

Capstone Project

Publication Date

5-21-2026

Publication Title

UNLV Undergraduate Economics Working Paper Series

Publisher

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Publisher Location

Las Vegas (Nev.)

Volume

3

Issue

2

First page number:

1

Last page number:

10

Abstract

This study analyzes if the 2023 rule changes affected the valuation for speed in the MLB labor market. By using a log-linear wage model and including an interaction term for stolen bases and the post-2023 indicator, we test to see if there is a speed premium in salaries. After accounting for yearly effects, the results present a statistically significant increase in the marginal value of stolen bases after the rule change shock. A placebo test was used with home runs to confirm the effects were specific to speed related metrics. The results suggest that the MLB market has and is adjusting to the new speed incentives created by the rule changes.

Keywords

MLB; Stolen Base; Labor Market Shock

Disciplines

Labor Relations | Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | Sports Management

File Format

PDF

File Size

345 KB

Language

English

Rights

IN COPYRIGHT. For more information about this rights statement, please visit http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

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