Official Rule, Procedure for No-Pitch Intentional Walk

Our friends at Umpire-Empire came across this dandy regarding no-pitch intentional walks in the 2017 MLB Umpire Manual, which instructs umpires on how to administer the new-for-2017 free pass:

If a defensive team's manager notifies the umpire that he would like to intentionally walk the batter:

• > Prior to the at bat beginning: As the batter approaches the plate the umpire will call "Time," the ball is dead, and the umpire shall award the batter first base and advance any other runner(s) forced to advance by the batter being walked.
• > During an at bat: The umpire will call "Time," the ball is dead, and the umpire shall award the batter first base and advance any other runner(s) forced to advance by the batter being walked.

If a substitute batter is being entered into the game, the plate umpire should confirm and officially signal the batter into the game prior to addressing the defensive Club's request to intentionally walk the batter.

Manager notifies umpire of intent-to-walk.

This last sentence (regarding pinch hitters) heads off a potentially confusing situation wherein the defense intends to intentionally walk the batter (e.g., to create the potential for a force out), but the batter-to-be-walked has not yet been solidified. As such, the plate umpire now has a specific responsibility and procedure for addressing the case of a pinch hitter-to-be-walked.

The pitchless IBB procedure also makes clear that the ball is dead during an intentional walk, and, thus, no runner may be thrown out for overrunning an awarded base. Similarly, the dead ball situation does not count toward the pitcher's overall pitch count, as the scoring simply reads, "(no pitch) intentional walk."

Although Rule 5.05(b)(1) remains unchanged: "The batter becomes a runner and is entitled to first base without liability to be put out (provided he advances to and touches first base) when - four “balls” have been called by the umpire," the rules committee modified its Definition of Terms to specify the game's new element:

A BASE ON BALLS is an award of first base granted to a batter who, during his time at bat, receives four pitches outside the strike zone or following a signal from the defensive team’s manager to the umpire that he intends to intentionally walk the batter. If the manager informs the umpire of this intention, the umpire shall award the batter first base as if the batter had received four pitches outside the strike zone

If you're so inclined, be sure to check out the 2017 MLB Umpire Media Guide, also from U-E!