Ticking Time Bomb: The Economic Ramifications of MLB’s Pitch Clock

In recent years, Major League Baseball has been challenged with declining engagement and attendance, particularly with younger audiences, with the long duration of games most commonly cited as the reason for disinterest. In response to this, MLB implemented a pitch clock that worked its way through the minor league system until it was introduced to the majors for the 2023 season. The goal for the clock was to reduce game times by increasing pace of play. While early evidence shows that the clock has been successful in that regard, its impact on player performance remains to be explored. This study examines whether the pitch clock has had significant effects on batting performance, specifically through a lens of time pressure and decision-making. Using panel data from both before and after the pitch clock’s implementation, this analysis finds that the pitch clock has a statistically significant negative effect on hitters. Results indicate that the pitch clock creates a loss of .8 hits for every 100 at-bats and a 35-point decline in OPS, which translates to around 6-7 less runs created per player over the course of a season. Though the pitch clock has increased the marketability of baseball, it may come at the cost of offensive production. These findings highlight the complex issues faced by Major League Baseball and the constant tradeoff of entertainment value versus player performance.NOTE: This is a 55-page Honors Research paper, traditionally printed on one side of the page only. Amazon's page count counts both sides of each page. Read more