Machado hit with first pitch-clock violation

Tick, tock, Manny Machado. Better watch that pitch clock.

Baseball’s new timing device made its major league debut on Friday during a limited schedule of spring training openers and wouldn’t you know it, it was Machado, the Padres’ All-Star slugger, and not a pitcher, who was called for the first violation.

Machado found out the hard way that the pitch clock works both ways. He wasn’t fully in the batter’s box and alert to Mariners lefty Robbie Ray as the 15-second clock wound under 8 seconds in the bottom of the first inning in Peoria, Ariz. Umpire Ryan Blakney called time and signaled strike one against Machado, who finished second in last season’s NL MVP race.

Though Machado was bemused, he wasn’t fazed, as he got the first of two singles.

“I might have to make a big adjustment. I might be 0-1 a lot this year, man,” Machado said. “It’s super fast. It’s definitely an adjustment period. Going down in the history books.”

The pitch clock is among several new rules designed to improve pace. Players will have 30 seconds to resume play between batters. Between pitches, pitchers will have 15 seconds with nobody on and 20 seconds if there is a baserunner. The pitcher must start his delivery before the clock expires. After a pitch, the clock starts again when the pitcher has the ball back, the catcher and batter are in the circle around home plate, and play is otherwise ready to resume.

Batters must be in the box and alert to the pitcher with at least eight seconds on the clock. Batters can call time once per plate appearance, stopping the countdown.

When a pitcher doesn’t throw a pitch in time, the penalty is an automatic ball. When a batter isn’t ready in time, it’s an automatic strike.

“It’ll be a little tricky,” Padres starter Nick Martinez said. “Got to find some areas that I can save some time so I can get some time when I need it.”