The new pitch clock will be a constant question in Spring Training. The Texas Rangers, like every other MLB team, has been working with it in bullpens and live batting practice.
Glenn Otto was the first Rangers pitcher to have to deal with the pitch clock in a spring game with the potential for penalty.
Otto said he had no real issues with the pitch clock during his start on Friday against Kansas City.
“I liked it,” Otto said of the pitch clock. “I mean, I like the pace of play. When I went to chase that foul ball to the dugout, they didn’t start it until I got back to the rubber. So I think it’s good. I think I was caught with a runner on base once when I had one second left and I had to get it going, but we’ve been practicing that.”
This was Otto’s first time seeing the pitch clock live. During stints at Triple-A Round Rock last season, he had to use the pitch clock.
MLB is using the pitch clock for the first time. There will be a 30-second timer between hitters. With the bases empty, pitchers have 15 seconds to start their motion once the ball is returned to them. With runners on base, it becomes 20 seconds. Pitchers can only disengage from the pitching rubber twice per hitter. That can be to step off and throw to a base or get a new sign.
Meanwhile, hitters have to be set and in the batter’s box with eight seconds remaining on the clock.
The idea is to speed up the game. Friday’s game with the Royals clocked in at 2:33.
Otto was impressive in his first outing of the spring. In his two innings, a two-run home run was the only hit he gave up. He walked one hitter, but five of the hitters he retired were on strikeouts.
Otto pitched his first full season of Major League baseball last season, going 7-10 with a 4.64 ERA. Otto ended up winning as many games as Jon Gray, the Rangers’ top free-agent pitching acquisition last offseason.
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