Major League Baseball has taken heed of concerns that it should no longer be putting players on the disabled list.
Specifically, Yahoo Sports reports that along with a number of rules changes discussed at this year’s winter meetings, MLB will turn to a more sensitive label for the DL and will now be referring to the status as the "injured list."
According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, MLB deputy commissioner Dan Hale said the change was made at the suggestion of advocacy groups for people with disabilities. The change was communicated back in December in a memo written by MLB’s Jeff Pfeifer, senior director of league economics and operations.
"In recent years, the commissioner has received several inquiries regarding the name of the 'Disabled List,' " Pfeifer wrote. "The principal concern is that using the term 'disabled' for players who are injured supports the misconception that people with disabilities are injured and therefore are not able to participate or compete in sports. As a result, Major League Baseball has agreed to change the name 'Disabled List' to be the 'Injured List' at both the major and minor league levels. All standards and requirements for placement, reinstatement, etc., shall remain unchanged. This change, which is only a rebranding of the name itself, is effective immediately."
The MLB, which originated the "disabled list" in 1915, is a bit behind the times. The NFL calls its list the "injured reserve list," while the NBA has the "inactive list."
Opinions varied on the new name:
congrats to major league baseball... no more "disabled list." now it's the "injured list." a progressive step as people with disabilities gain new respect and rights in society. https://t.co/IvpCb3xGtN
— Bill Ritter (@billritter7) February 7, 2019
I think we have finally truly hit rock bottom, folks. Determining MLB’s “disabled list” as an offensive term is rock bottom for rationality.
— KFC (@KFCBarstool) February 7, 2019
