Major League Baseball’s efforts to speed up the game are working.
So far in 2023, games have been an average of 28 minutes shorter than last season, according to time-of-game data from league statistics providers.
MLB instituted a pitch timer this season. Pitchers have 15 seconds to throw a pitch with no runners on base and 20 seconds with men aboard, otherwise an automatic ball is called. Hitters are allowed one timeout per at-bat and must be in the batter’s box with at least eight seconds left on the clock, otherwise an automatic strike is called.
According to the data, games are averaging 2 hours and 37 minutes this season, down from 3 hours and 5 minutes in 2022.
The last time games were this short was the 1981 season.
–Field Level Media
