Major League Baseball is making another tweak to pitch clock rules after its successful implementation in 2023.
MLB is shortening the pitch clock with the bases empty from 20 seconds to 18, according to Jesse Rogers of ESPN. According to the league, pitchers started their delivery with an average of 7.3 seconds remaining, leading the league to make the change.
The clock will remain at 15 seconds with runners on base, unchanged from 2023.
The league also announced a handful of other changes, including a reduction of mound visits allowed from five to four and a widening of the lane for baserunners from home to first.
MLBPA executive director Tony Clark said the league’s competition committee made the changes over the objections of players, and argued that the rules adjustments “offer no meaningful benefits to fans, Players, or the competition on the field.”
From MLBPA executive director Tony Clark: The players on the competition committee voted no on the rules changes implemented today. Because MLB has a majority of seats on the committee, the league’s preferences with rules changes will go through. pic.twitter.com/ZnSJO6NZEs
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 21, 2023
The pitch clock has been widely popular, though a vocal minority of players do have a problem with it. Shortening it by two seconds with the bases empty probably will not upset anyone except those who oppose the concept to begin with, though the impacts will probably be negligible.
