MLB will Implement a Pitch Clock for Minor League Games

Major League Baseball has finally taken a step toward speeding up the pace of the game. According to FOXSports.com, MLB will implement a pitch clock to limit the time in between pitches for minor league games.

"Multiple players and coaches told FOX Sports recently that they found the pitch clock to be effective and not disruptive to the flow of the game," FOX Sports reported.

According to the sources, in 2015, MLB officials will use a 20-second pitch clock in Double-A and Triple-A games but not in the majors. There will reportedly be three timers in each park. Two will be behind home plate and the last one will be in the outfield. All clubs are responsible for hiring and paying for a timer operator. The equipment will be purchased by MLB Advanced Media.

A pitch clock is currently being used in the Arizona Fall League. With the clock, the average time of game has fallen to two hours and 51 minutes. In this league, a violation of the 20-second limit results in an automatic ball or strike call for the offending club.

A pitch clock will not be the only change to the game. Based on the information from a memo that was handed out to minor league clubs by Braves president John Schuerholz, the league also wants to enforce time limits on inning breaks and pitching changes. The exact time limits, however, have not been finalized.

In 2014, the average time length of a game increased to around three hours and eight minutes, which is the longest within any season since 1950. In 1950, games lasted an average of two hours and 21 minutes. Over the past four years, the average time length for a game has steadily increased.

Here is a video of the pitch clock at work: