BRAVES UPDATES: Former Atlanta Braves pitcher break silence on new rules surrounding pitch clock

Kris Medlen discussed how he believes the pitch clock would affect his pitching technique.
The new pitch clock restrictions resulted in shorter games during the 2023 MLB season.

According to CBC Sports, the addition of the 20-second clock between pitches cut game time by about 30 minutes, to an average of two hours and 37 minutes. Over a 162-game season, that’s more than 80 hours of work for an MLB team.

Former Atlanta Braves pitcher Kris Medlen joins The Braves Today Podcast to discuss the inaugural season of the pitch clock and how it would not have changed his game.

 

“Every team has a crew of people who say, ‘This is what we’re doing.'” This is the strategy.’ “And they’re like, screw the runner, whatever,” Medlen explained. “Our goal is to get strikeouts.” We’ll take swings and misses. That was not my style. I was like, two seamer, quickly change pitch to contact pitch. So when you mention the pitch clock and how delighted I was to be there, you can bet I was eager to get it over with. I’m ready for a few beers. I had a good time when I was there, but I was like, “Let’s go. You’re done. You’re done. Oh, you got a base hit. “All right, you’re out.” You’re either going to get hit or I’ll get you out. Let us not put this off any longer. I’m having a nice time, but let’s get going. So I don’t think the pitch clock will completely effect me and my thinking, but as a spectator, I prefer 45-minute games.”

The MLB will shorten the pitch clock from 20 seconds to 18 seconds between pitches in 2024. Pitchers began their pitches with an average of 7.3 seconds remaining in 2023.