Ask almost anyone why they don’t watch Major League Baseball (MLB), and they’ll likely say, “it’s too boring” or “too long.” To address these concerns, MLB introduced one of the most significant game changes in the sport’s history, the pitch clock. This system imposes a time limit to force pitchers to move the game forward. Depending on the situation, different time limits appear. Pitchers have 15 seconds to deliver a pitch if the bases are empty, 18 seconds if there is at least one runner on base, and a 30-second timer between batters. Though this addition has increased the game’s speed, the increased injuries to pitchers following this implementation are notable.

A History Behind the Timer

Implemented in 2023, the MLB pitch clock aimed to address common criticisms of the game. The goal of the pitch clock is to cut down on the common and lengthy dead time between pitches. This allows for the game to be faster, more exciting, and allows fans to have more to watch. With this season being the second with the addition of the pitch clock, MLB games have been shown to have shortened by roughly twenty minutes. Initially, pitchers had 20 seconds if at least one runner was on base. However, for the 2024 season, this time was reduced to 18 seconds, a change that was opposed by players.

Prior to the clock, 54 percent of MLB fans expressed their belief that the games were too long. After the implementation of the pitch clock, only 42 percent of fans expressed this concern. This 12 percent decrease demonstrates improved fan satisfaction. Although fans are more pleased with games, pitcher injuries have spiked, with a potential correlation to this new rule. 

A Spike in Pitcher Injuries

Since the implementation, Cleveland's Shane Bieber, Atlanta's Spencer Strider, the New York Yankees' Jonathan Loáisiga, Miami's Eury Pérez, and Oakland's Trevor Gott are among the pitchers diagnosed with elbow injuries, some of which were season-ending. Players are urging the league to make a change to the pitch clock due to the increase in injuries.

Recently, the Major League Baseball Players’ Association (MLBPA) issued a statement placing the blame on recent pitcher injuries on the pitch clock. A central focus of the debate over whether the pitch clock has led to an increase in injury is the reduction of recovery time between pitches. Union executive director Tony Clark has made several statements regarding the opposition to the pitch clock. Clark has discussed how players have significant concerns regarding health and safety, and that the league is unwilling to truly assess the effects of one of the most significant rule changes in decades. This lack of recovery increases stress on the elbow and shoulder joint in pitchers, which can lead to quicker overuse injuries.

MLB’s Pushback Against the Claim

The MLB responded to the union by noting that pitcher injuries have increased over the past three decades, even before the pitch clock was introduced. The MLB claims that there has been an overall increase in pitcher injuries in the past three decades, regardless of the clock being implemented in 2023. Prior to this addition in the MLB, the minor league implemented this clock in 2022 and showed a decline in ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) injuries, a common tear or strain in the elbow for pitchers. MLB suggests that modern pitching trends, such as max-effort throwing (where pitchers consistently deliver each pitch at full velocity) and pitch design (which creates sharper, more unnatural pitch movement), have contributed more to the rise in injuries than the implementation of the pitch clock. MLB also argues that a greater number of players are entering the league with a prior history of injuries. This is thought to be a precursor to recurring issues and further injuries as players continue their careers in the MLB.

Legal and Labor Law Implications

The argument the MLBPA presents raises questions about whether the MLB is fulfilling its duty of care to its athletes. If this injury trend and lack of support by the MLB continues, it is possible for athletes to challenge the league for failing to consider foreseeable health consequences and being negligent in player safety. MLB owes a duty of care to its players to prevent foreseeable harm. If the pitch clock significantly increases injury risk, MLB could be liable for those injuries directly caused by the rule change. However, MLB may argue that injuries stemming from pitching mechanics or pre-existing conditions fall outside their responsibility due to the assumption of risk.

Similar concerns for player safety have led to major legal action in other professional sports leagues such as the NFL. In 2015, a settlement was finalized out of a large class-action lawsuit filed by former NFL players who claimed that the NFL had concealed the risk of concussions. Approximately 4,000 former players were directly involved with the lawsuit. Though the NFL had long denied any wrongdoing and insisted that player safety always was their top priority, they reached a settlement over concussion-related brain injuries and agreed to compensate victims, pay for medical exams, and conduct research on the issue. Since the settlement, the NFL has awarded over $1 billion to former athletes who suffered from injury. MLB could face a similar situation if these pitch clock injuries persist.

Policy Considerations and Potential Reforms

Rather than abandoning the pitch clock entirely, the MLB could adopt targeted reforms to ensure pitchers receive the proper rest and recovery time while also maintaining a faster game pace. Many players oppose the limited time between pitches, especially the 2024 reduction of 20 seconds to 18 when there is at least one runner on base. Reverting to 20 seconds or even adding slightly more time could aid in the recovery of pitchers, especially during longer innings that require more pitches. An increase to 22-23 seconds could significantly reduce the strain on the elbow and shoulder joints.

Before the MLB creates changes that would significantly alter the play of the game, they could introduce a medical review panel to assess the potential physical impacts of what they are hoping to incorporate into the game. This could mirror the NFL, where medical advisory boards play a role in evaluation decisions and can help limit the league from future liability by demonstrating a good-faith effort to ensure the safety of players.

The Need to Listen to the Voices of Players

Although the pitch clock may have succeeded in aiding with the pace of MLB, the rising level of pitcher injuries since its implementation cannot be ignored. While the league benefits from the revenue and enjoyment of the game, the players are the ones who take on the physical burdens of the playing rules. The MLB must consider reforms as players voice a growing discomfort with regulations regarding physical health.

Katherine Vescio is a 2L at University of Gonzaga School of Law. She can be found on LinkedIn.