Pitch clock

A pitch clock is a device that counts the time it takes for a pitcher to make a pitch to the batter, to ensure that it is done within a set period of time.

Rule 8.04 states that:

When the bases are unoccupied, the pitcher shall deliver the ball to the batter within 12 seconds after he receives the ball. Each time the pitcher delays the game by violating this rule, the umpire shall call "Ball." The 12-second timing starts when the pitcher is in possession of the ball and the batter is in the box, alert to the pitcher. The timing stops when the pitcher releases the ball.

However, there is no similar rule that covers a situation when there is one or more baserunners on base, and traditionally, the existing rule was rarely enforced in the major leagues as umpires did not keep a stopwatch trained on the pitcher.

Major League Baseball began to tinker with the idea of a pitch clock during the 2014 Arizona Fall League season, in an attempt to speed up the game. Following that successful experiment, owners decided at their meeting of January 15, 2015 to introduce a pitch clock in the minor leagues at the AA and AAA levels beginning that season. In this case, the 12-second limit remains in place for situations in which there is no runner on base, and a 20-second limit is in effect for situations when there is one or more baserunners.

The intention was to eventually extend the use of the pitch clock to the major league level. It is modeled to some extent on the "shot clock" which exists in basketball and whose purpose is also to speed up the game. On January 18, 2018 reports emerged that Commissioner Rob Manfred was prepared to unilaterally impose a 20-second pitch clock with no runners on base that season. A first violation would result in a warning by the umpire, and any subsequent one by a ball being added to the count. However, the Commissioner was unable to come to terms with the Players Association on the implementation of the policy. The two sides agreed to other measures to speed up the pace of play, including limits on mound visits and a reduction of the time allotted between innings. In 2019, the clock was introduced in spring training games as a practical test with a view towards implementation during that or a future regular season. That year, a 20-second pitch clock was also put in effect for international games, starting with the 2019 Pan American Games. In 2021, baseball went even further by lowering the time between pitches to 15 seconds in some Low A minor leagues, to test how this would work, and also enforcing penalties for violations - which had rarely been the case previously - both on pitchers and batters. Initial results were very promising, with average game time cut by 20 minutes without affecting scoring levels. The pitch clock also proved to be favorable to a more aggressive running game, another positive result. The final figure was a reduction of 25 minutes in average game time, from 3:03 to 2:38.

Testing continued around the minor leagues in 2022 and when preliminary results confirmed the results, a version of the rule was adopted to be introduced in Major League Baseball in 2023. Under the rule, there will be a 30-second timer between batters. Between pitches, there will be a 15-second timer with the bases empty and a 20-second timer with runners on base. The pitcher must begin his motion to deliver the pitch before the expiration of the pitch timer and those who violate the timer are charged with an automatic ball. Conversely, batters who violate the timer are charged with an automatic strike. With runners on base, the timer resets if the pitcher attempts a pickoff or steps off the rubber. Pitchers are limited to two disengagements (pickoff attempts or step-offs) per plate appearance. However, this limit is reset if a runner or runners advance during the plate appearance. If a third pickoff attempt is made, the runner automatically advances one base if the pickoff attempt is not successful.

Further Reading

• David Adler: "MLB could implement pitch clock this season", mlb.com, January 19, 2018. [1]
• Associated Press: "Pitch clock cut minor league games by 25 minutes to two hours, 38 minutes", ESPN.com, September 29, 2022. [2]
• Anthony Castrovince: "6 things I learned watching the pitch clock in action", mlb.com, May 20, 2022. [3]
• Anthony Castrovince: "How the pitch clock can revive the stolen base", mlb.com, June 15, 2022. [4]
• Anthony Castrovince: "Pitch timer, shift restrictions among announced rule changes for '23", mlb.com, September 9, 2022. [5]
• Anthony Castrovince: 2A behind-the-scenes look at how pitch timer works", mlb.com, February 7, 2023. [6]
• Mark Feinsand: "Rule changes strive for 'very best version of baseball'", mlb.com, September 9, 2022. [7]
• Scott Jennings (Los Angeles Times): "Baseball's new pitch clock is the best thing since sliced bread", Yahoo! News, March 7, 2023. [8]
• Bob Nightengale: "Rob Manfred, MLB considering radical changes to game", USA Today Sports, August 18, 2016. [9]
• Bob Nightengale: "Like it or not, MLB to implement pitch clock in 2018", USA Today Sports, July 11, 2017. [10]
• Bob Nightengale: "Pitch limit or not, MLB-union hostilities already on the clock", USA Today Sports, January 18, 2018. [11]

Related Sites

• Article about the decision to introduce a pitch clock in selected minor leagues