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Report: MLB making small tweaks to pitch clock, won't be changing time

Brace Hemmelgarn / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Major League Baseball will be making minor changes to rules regarding the new pitch clock but won't be changing the time restrictions players have been getting accustomed to during spring training, according to a league memo distributed Wednesday that was obtained by Jeff Passan of ESPN.

Major leaguers on the joint competition committee between MLBPA and MLB reportedly requested the alterations.

The document stated that the 15-second limit with bases empty and the 20-second limit with runners on base will remain in place, according to Passan. Another change that won't reportedly be adjusted is the hitter needing to be ready to receive a pitch in the batter's box with eight seconds remaining.

The memo also outlined that pitch clock violations decreased from 2.03 per game in the first week to 1.03 this week, per Passan. The overall average time is down to two hours and 36 minutes per spring contest - a 25-minute drop compared to the previous time of three hours and one minute before the implementation of a pitch clock.

The biggest rule tweak in the memo is reportedly changing replay review to cover infractions for infield shift restrictions. A team can now only challenge an out call by reviewing if an infielder had his feet on the outfield grass while making a play on a batted ball, according to Passan.

Other issues covered in the memo include PitchCom malfunctions, assessing the speed of batboys and batgirls to retrieve equipment, and minor rule tweaks for catchers and pitchers, and hitters calling timeouts in relation to the pitch clock.

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