Analyzing the Effect of Pitch Clocks on Fan Engagement in the MLB

Last September, MLB announced a series of rule changes for the 2023 season, headlined by the implementation of a pitch clock. This timer would ensure that both the pitcher and the batter were ready to play in an efficient amount of time, in the hopes of decreasing the overall length of each game. Since 2010, games have been getting longer, with in-person attendance decreasing as a result, and the ultimate goal of the pitch clock was to revitalize engagement with the sport.

Only one year in and the results seem to be a resounding success. Not only has the average game length shortened to 2 hours and 42 minutes (lowest since 1984), but the median in-person attendance across the league is at its highest since 2007 (an 11% increase from 2022).?

While baseball celebrates this achievement for in-person attendance, the pitch clock’s effect on TV viewership isn’t as clear cut. Overall, regional broadcasts saw a 7% increase in viewership during the 2023 season, but a closer look at each individual team shows us that this average comes from only 16 of the 30 teams making strong gains in TV viewership. Compare this to in-person attendance, where 26 of the 30 teams saw an increase, and we can see that more could be done to invite audience interest at home.

This issue can be better visualized with a look at postseason ratings, which unlike the regular season results, did not see any improvements. Viewership was down in the Wild Card, Divisional, and World Series rounds, while the Championship round experienced no change all when compared with 2022. Despite the pitch clock, on its highest stage, baseball still found itself in need of a larger audience.

As MLB seeks to rectify this problem, we should expect to see more rule changes put in place until viewership reaches a satisfiable level. The pitch clock was only one of the rule changes implemented in 2023, as limits on defensive positioning and larger sized bases were introduced to increase the number of balls in play and action on the basepaths. While these changes may not have affected viewership as intended, they’re an example of how MLB is trying to make games more exciting and appealing, a strategy they’ll likely continue in the years to come.

Despite mixed results with TV viewership, baseball still found success in rejuvenating in-person attendance this past season, something they will try to build upon in future seasons. MLB’s Competition Committee is currently considering doubling down on the pitch clock by reducing it from 20 seconds to 18 seconds in 2024, in addition to other proposed changes to decrease game lengths with regard to timeouts, mound visits, and pitching substitutions. MLB certainly views game length as a critical factor for in-person attendance, and will likely remain a central focus in their efforts to renew interest in the sport.

Works Cited

Akabas, Lev. “MLB Attendance Rebounds to Highest Level since 2017.” Sportico.Com, Sportico.com, 3 Oct. 2023, www.sportico.com/leagues/baseball/2023/mlb-attendance-fans-pitch-clock-1234740900/.

Brown, Maury. “MLB Regional Sports Networks See 7% Gain for 2023 Season.” Forbes, Forbes Magazine, 9 Oct. 2023, www.forbes.com/sites/maurybrown/2023/10/05/mlb-regional-sports-networks-see-7-gain-for-2023-season/?sh=496528af9a8a.

Castrovince, Anthony. “Pitch Timer, Shift Restrictions among Announced Rule Changes for ’23.” MLB.Com, MLB, 13 Feb. 2023, www.mlb.com/news/mlb-2023-rule-changes-pitch-timer-larger-bases-shifts.

Press, Associated. “MLB Playoff Ratings Steady in LCS after Declines in Wild-Card and Division Rounds.” ESPN, ESPN Internet Ventures, 19 Oct. 2023, www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/38698056/mlb-playoff-ratings-steady-lcs-declines-wild-card-division-rounds.

Rosenthal, Ken. “More MLB Rule Changes Proposed, Including Batter Timeouts, Pitching Changes and Mound Visits.” The Athletic, The Athletic, 16 Nov. 2023, theathletic.com/5069986/2023/11/16/mlb-rule-changes-proposal-timeouts-pitching/.

Sim, Josh. “MLB World Series 2023 Is Least Watched on Record.” SportsPro, 3 Nov. 2023, www.sportspromedia.com/news/mlb-world-series-2023-tv-ratings-viewership-fox-texas-rangers/?zephr_sso_ott=zAVh0b#:~:text=Confirmed%3A,million%20viewers%20for%20game%20five.?