St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina shows the baseball after a collision at home plate with Philadelphia Phillies Eric Bruntlett in the ninth inning at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on June 15, 2008. Molina was taken off the field on a cart and his injuries were not immediately known. (UPI Photo/Bill Greenblatt) | License Photo

SLP2002041402- ST. LOUIS, April 14 (UPI) -- St. Louis Cardinals' catcher Mike DeFelice watches as the baseball falls out of his glove following a collision at home plate with Houston Astros' Brad Ausmus, in the third inning at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, April 14, 2002. Ausmus scored from third base on a sacrifice fly ball off the bat of Daryle Ward. Cards' center fielder Jim Edmonds, caught the fly ball and fired to home plate. mk/bg/Bill Greenblatt UPI | License Photo

San Francisco Giants Melky Cabrera dives into home past the leg of Pittsburgh Pirates Rod Barajas in the first inning of opening day at the AT&T Park in San Francisco on April 13, 2012. Cabrera scored on a double by Buster Posey. The Giants defeated the Pirates 5-0. UPI/Terry Schmitt | License Photo

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla., Dec. 11 (UPI) -- Home plate collisions would be banned under a proposal adopted Wednesday at baseball's winter meetings, New York Mets General Manager Sandy Alderson said.

Alderson, chairman of Major League Baseball's Playing Rules Committee, revealed the panel had overwhelmingly approved the ban, which could go into effect in 2014 pending approval of the players, MLB.com reported.


Alderson said reducing concussions and other injuries from the often violent collisions between catchers and baserunners was "part of the impetus for this rule change" and represents an attempt to "change the culture of acceptance that these plays are ordinary and routine and an accepted part of the game."

He indicated the drafting of how the ban would work is still being discussed.

The push to ban such collisions was strongly supported by St. Louis Cardinals Manager Mike Matheny and Giants Manager Bruce Bochy.

It gained traction when Giants catcher Buster Posey broke a leg and tore knee ligaments during a May 2011 crash with the Marlins' Scott Cousins -- Posey was out for the rest of the season.

ESPN reported the measures under consideration would bar catchers from blocking the plate, thus allowing the runner a clear path to the base. Runners, meanwhile, would be banned from intentionally targeting catchers with hits.