‘Those precious seconds’

Hitters having most trouble adjusting to new pitch clock

SARASOTA, Fla. — Over time, Cedric Mullins has donned more and more equipment when he bats. At some point, he started wearing an arm guard. The next year, he added a leg sleeve. This season, he’s introducing a hand guard.

But with Major League Baseball’s introduction of a pitch clock, the Orioles’ leadoff man has found he has only so much time to get dressed.

“You wouldn’t think you’d have to practice putting that on as fast as you could, but it’s definitely interesting,” Mullins said. “Sometimes, I’ll put the arm guard on, and it gets stuck somewhere, and I’m like, ‘Oh, jeez,’ yanking at it. Leg guard might not clip the first time through and gotta readjust that.

“You’re trying to keep those precious seconds.”

Mullins will get to enjoy a break from the system while playing for the United States in the World Baseball Classic, but spring training has been an adjustment throughout the sport, with the league introducing the pitch clock amid a collection of rule changes. Although the timer is prompting the pitcher to start his motion, it’s Baltimore’s hitters who have felt the most pressure.

In a home game, Mullins must run into the dugout from center field, put on his gear and be in the batter’s box ready to hit in under two minutes or risk starting off in an 0-1 count. After facing one batter, pitchers have 30 seconds to deliver a pitch to the next one. With the bases empty, they have 15 seconds per pitch, with the clock jumping to 20 with runners on; failing to start their motion by the end of the timer results in an automatic ball. In all cases, hitters must be in the box and alert to the pitcher with 8 seconds left or be given an automatic strike.

“At the end of the day, they have 15 seconds to do their job,” Orioles infield prospect Jordan Westburg said, “whereas we have seven seconds.”