Pitch clock shortened minor-league games by 25 minutes in 2022

MLB’s implementation of a pitch clock in the minor leagues this year cut down the average time of games by 25 minutes, according to the commissioner’s office.

The average length of a minor-league game in 2022 came in at two hours and 38 minutes, compared to 3:03 during the 2021 season. Minor-league pitchers were allowed 14 seconds to start their motions with the bases empty and 18 seconds with at least one runner on base (19 seconds in Triple A).

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Offensive statistics saw minimal variation, with runs per team per game increasing from 5.11 to 5.13, batting average up to .249 from .247 and home run percentage dipping to 2.7 from 2.8. Pitchers’ strikeout percentage dropped to 24.4 from 25.4, walk percentage increased to 10.5 from 10.2 and hit-by-pitch percentage stayed at 1.6.

MLB announced earlier this month that pitch clocks will be introduced to major league games in 2023. MLB pitchers will have 20 seconds to begin their throwing motions with runners on base and will get 15 seconds to do so with the bases empty. Umpires will assess a ball to pitchers who don’t start their motions before the clock expires and a strike to batters who aren’t in the box and “alert to the pitcher” within eight seconds.

The length of a nine-inning MLB game in 2022 is currently averaging three hours and four minutes.

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(Photo: Carl D. Walsh / Portland Portland Press Herald via Getty Images)