Major League Baseball’s competition committee is reportedly considering a proposal to decrease the pitch clock with runners on base from 20 seconds to 18 for the upcoming season. This move aims to counteract a late-season surge in average game time, which saw an increase of seven minutes. The committee, comprising six team representatives, four players, and one umpire, is also exploring a reduction in mound visits from five to four.
While the 15-second clock without runners on base is expected to remain unchanged, players are engaged in discussions about the proposed adjustments. The competition committee, with the power to implement on-field rule changes after providing 45 days’ notice, is open to player feedback and potential adjustments.
Concerns have been raised by players, citing the rise in pitching injuries during the 2023 season. Despite MLB’s stance that the accelerated pace of the game is not responsible for injuries, the league holds significant influence over rule changes through its majority representation on the committee.
Pitchers not present in the recent committee meeting expressed a willingness to accept a reduced clock with runners on base if accompanied by a longer clock with empty bases. However, MLB has shown no inclination to deviate from the 15-second rule.
The introduction of the pitch clock in the 2023 season initially proved successful, resulting in a decreased average nine-inning game time from 3 hours, 4 minutes to 2 hours, 40 minutes. Subsequent adjustments by hitters and pitchers led to an increase throughout the season, with average game times reaching 2:44 in September.
In 2023, 14% of the 1,094 pitch-clock violations occurred with runners on base. On average, pitchers initiated deliveries with 6.5 seconds remaining on the 15-second clock and 7.3 seconds left on the 20-second clock.
Minor league games experimented with a 14-second clock with empty bases and 18 seconds with runners on, while a universal 17-second clock was tested in the Triple-A season’s final month. The Arizona Fall League adopted 15 seconds with bases empty and 18 with runners on.
Major league teams averaged 2.3 mound visits per game, with only 2% of games exceeding four visits.