Cuban national baseball team hopefuls begin training at Latinoamericano stadium as they prepare for the 2023 World Baseball Classic, in Havana, Cuba, Monday, Jan. 16, 2023. ( AP Photo/Ismael Francisco)

NEW YORK (AP) Major League Baseball's new pitch clock, limits on shifts and larger bases will not be used during the World Baseball Classic.

The three innovations will be debuted during the spring training exhibition season that starts Feb. 24. The 20-team national team tournament runs from March 8-21, and players will return to their clubs for more exhibition games with the new rules ahead of opening day on March 30.

"There's going to be an adjustment and learning curve to those, so for the actual quality of baseball in the WBC, it's probably better that they didn't spring that on us in important games," St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Paul Goldschmidt said Tuesday during an online availability. "If something happened in an elimination game that we weren't prepared for, that could have a negative effect. We're going to need a learning curve with those and we won't get it for a few weeks, but we'll work on it in spring training and other times."

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