NEW YORK — A 20-second pitch clock will be phased in in three stages during spring training, with the start of ball/strike penalties depending on negotiations with the players’ association. Major League Baseball said Friday that the pitch clock will not be enforced this weekend and that beginning early next week umpires will issue reminders to batters and pitchers who violate the clock. The clock will not operate before the first pitch of a plate appearance, or after foul balls, mound visits or timeouts called by umpires, except for timeouts called just to reset the clock. The clock will start when a pitcher is in possession of the ball on the mound, and the pitcher must start his windup or move toward a set position within the 20 seconds. Management proposed a regular-season pitch clock after the 2016 and 2017 seasons, but the players’ association refused to agree.

Source: National Post February 22, 2019 21:08 UTC