Pitch clock + overtime reduction... 'Fast baseball' KBO game time is reduced by 13 minutes
Pitch clock + overtime reduction... 'Fast baseball' KBO game time is reduced by 13 minutes
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The time required for one professional baseball game this season was reduced by about 13 minutes compared to last year.토토사이트
According to the data released by the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) on the 8th, the average regular league game time in the 2025 season was 2 hours and 57 minutes, significantly lower than in the 2024 season (3 hours and 10 minutes).
KBO said, "The number of games that took more than 3 hours and 30 minutes was 13, down less than half compared to the same period (36 games) of the previous year," adding, "The number of games under 2 hours and 30 minutes increased from 7 games to 15 games."
KBO introduced the automatic pitching decision system (ABS) last year to reduce unnecessary protest time for both teams, and this year, it also applied a pitch clock that puts a time limit on pitchers and batters' preparation movements.
The pitch clock is a system introduced by the U.S. Major League Baseball (MLB) in the 2023 season, which puts a time limit on pitchers and batters' preparation movements to shorten game time.
Pitchers must pitch within 20 seconds when there is no runner and within 25 seconds when there is no runner.
Batters are also subject to the application. The batter must enter the batter's box within 33 seconds.
If this is violated, the pitcher will be sanctioned with one ball and the batter will be sanctioned with one strike.
The pitch clock adaptation process at the site, which was concerned, was found to be smooth.
Pitch clock violations average 0.4 times per game, within 1 time per 2 games.
In addition to the pitch clock, KBO has introduced various systems this season, including reducing the overtime to 11 from the previous 12 innings.
The "go-to-taser" phenomenon, in which pitchers show strong performance this season, also affects reducing game time.
The KBO League will challenge the record of "less than 3 hours" of average game time for the first time in 27 years.
The last year when the average game time was less than 3 hours was 1998 (2 hours and 59 minutes), and the last year when the game time was less than 3 hours and 10 minutes was 2004.
Meanwhile, KBO is also considering introducing a check swing video review to strengthen the fairness of the league.
Regarding the check swing reading, which is piloted by the Futures League (second division), KBO said, "There have been 54 requests for reading in 103 games this year," and added, "17 of them have been reversed, recording a 31.5% reversal rate."