The MLB pitch clock is a 15- or 18-second timer that limits how long pitchers can take between pitches, plus a 30-second timer between batters. It was introduced in the 2023 MLB season after years of minor league testing and immediately cut the average game time by 28 minutes — from 3:04 in 2022 down to 2:36 in 2023. Here’s exactly how the pitch clock works, when it started, and what the rules mean for pitchers, batters, and runners.
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How the MLB pitch clock works (the rules in plain English)
The pitch clock has three separate timers running during a game. The first is the between-pitch timer: 15 seconds when the bases are empty, 18 seconds when there’s at least one runner on base. The pitcher must begin his motion to deliver the pitch before that timer hits zero. If he doesn’t, an automatic ball is called and added to the count. The second is the between-batters timer: 30 seconds between when one at-bat ends and the next pitch must be thrown to the new batter. The third is the batter’s alert mark: hitters must be in the box and looking at the pitcher by the 8-second mark on the timer. If a batter isn’t ready by then, an automatic strike is called against him.
The disengagement rule is the most complex piece. A “disengagement” is anytime a pitcher steps off the rubber or attempts a pickoff at any base. Pitchers are limited to two disengagements per plate appearance with runners on base. If they attempt a third disengagement, and it’s not successful (meaning the runner doesn’t get tagged out), it’s called a balk and all runners advance one base. The two-disengagement count resets if a runner advances during the at-bat — for example, via a stolen base, a wild pitch, a passed ball, or a balk. This rule was specifically designed to discourage pitchers from holding runners on by repeatedly stepping off, which had become a major source of game delays in the pre-clock era.
When did the MLB pitch clock start (and why)
The MLB pitch clock officially started on March 30, 2023, the first day of the 2023 MLB regular season. The first-ever pitch clock violation happened during the Cubs-Brewers opening day game when Cubs pitcher Marcus Stroman was hit with a violation against Brewers hitter Christian Yelich. But the rule didn’t appear overnight. MLB had been testing the pitch clock in the minor leagues since 2015, gradually refining the timing and rules over multiple seasons. In 2022, minor league games tested the 14-second/19-second version of the clock, which reduced average minor league game times from 3:03 in 2021 down to 2:38 in 2022 — a 25-minute drop that convinced MLB the rule could work at the major league level.
The motivation behind the pitch clock was simple: MLB games had become too long. Average game times had climbed from 2:33 in 1981 to over 3:00 by the late 2010s, and 3:04 in 2022. Commissioner Rob Manfred and MLB ownership feared that 3+ hour games were costing baseball younger fans, especially compared to faster-paced sports like the NFL or NBA. The pitch clock was paired with other rule changes for the 2023 season: bigger bases (15 to 18 inches), a ban on the infield shift (requiring two infielders on each side of second base), and limits on pickoff attempts. The combination of these rules has fundamentally changed how the modern game is played.
How the pitch clock has changed since 2023
The rules have been adjusted multiple times since the original 2023 rollout. In 2024, MLB reduced the runners-on-base timer from 20 seconds to 18 seconds, and cut allowed mound visits from five per game to four (with a fifth granted in the ninth inning only if a team has none remaining). Average game time stayed roughly the same in 2024 at about 2:36. In 2025, the average crept back up slightly to 2:38, prompting MLB to test additional tweaks in the minor leagues for potential MLB adoption. For 2026, the bigger rule change wasn’t pitch-clock related at all — MLB introduced the Automated Ball-Strike Challenge System (ABS), which allows teams to challenge ball/strike calls made by the home plate umpire using Hawk-Eye technology. The combination of pitch clock and ABS has made the 2026 MLB game noticeably different from the version played as recently as 2022.
For continuously updated MLB rule details, including the official pitch clock procedures and any in-season adjustments, MLB.com’s official rules glossary is the authoritative source. For deeper analysis of how the pitch clock has affected specific aspects of the game (steal rates, walks, strikeouts, run scoring), Baseball America publishes the most comprehensive ongoing coverage of the pitch clock’s impact across all professional levels.
The honest summary on the MLB pitch clock: it worked. Games are shorter, the pace is faster, and most fans and players have adapted. There’s been almost no impact on offense — run scoring, batting averages, and home run rates have stayed within historical norms. Stolen bases have actually increased because the disengagement rule makes it harder for pitchers to hold runners. Pitch clock violations are rare: only about one per every 5.2 games in 2025, meaning most violations happen in the first few innings as players adjust each game. For new baseball fans, the pitch clock is now just part of how the game is played — there’s never been a Major League season without it from the perspective of anyone who started watching since 2023.
— Drew, Legion Report