MLB raised several ideas with the players in the late stages of negotiations to end the lockout. Stark: Pitch clocks won’t be the only change next year. Is MLB considering any additional rules changes?

And now that MLB has negotiated the right to make expedited rule changes next year, this will be atop that list.

The duration of the timer still needs to be agreed on by the new competition committee, which will include four active players.īut the clock has been a big hit in trials in the minors and Arizona Fall League. And it’s almost certain you’ll see them in the big leagues in 2023. Jayson Stark, senior MLB writer: Pitch clocks are coming. (Photo: Shawn Patrick Ouellette / Portland Portland Press Herald via Getty Images) Could MLB institute pitch clocks in 2023? Previously, MLB needed to alert the players a year in advance before making any changes. MLB opted not to enact new rules changes for the 2022 season, but the players association agreed to allow the league to unilaterally change rules with 45 days notice. The rules haven't had a noticeable effect on offensive numbers teams are scoring 5.11 runs per game with timers in use, the same amount they scored in 2021 without pitch clocks. Hitters are assessed a strike if they aren't ready to hit with nine seconds remaining and pitchers are penalized with a ball if they haven't delivered a pitch before time expires. Nine-inning MLB games lasted 3 hours, 11 minutes on average during the 2021 season. That's compared to an average minor-league game time of 2:59 without pitch clocks in 2021, and an average run time of 3:03 in 2021. Since introducing a 14-second timer with no one on base and an 18-second clock with runners on, 9-inning minor-league games have lasted an average of 2 hours, 39 minutes. There has been a noticeable difference in the pace of play since minor-league games enforced pitch clocks for 132 games, with games shortened by an average of 20 minutes across all levels compared to 335 games without timers this season.

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