Korean pro baseball has a pitch clock ⏱️

Korean pro baseball had a pitch clock.

Baseball is a sport where games are just long.

Maybe because of that, Major League Baseball has a rule: “The pitcher must throw the next ball within about 15 to 20 seconds.”

This is the pitch clock.

In the photo, the “13” shining next to the scoreboard is the time left.

I was surprised that Korean pro baseball has this too.

Actually, Japanese pro baseball does not have a pitch clock.

So games in Japan are a little longer.

The pitcher stands still for about 20 seconds without throwing, and plays a mind game with the batter.

That may also be part of what makes Japanese baseball Japanese.

But because of that, it seems Japan has a hard time at international tournaments.

There is a tournament called the WBC (World Baseball Classic), like a World Cup for baseball.

Japan is a country with very strong pitchers.

Back when there was no pitch clock, Japanese pitchers were hard to hit, and Japan has won the tournament.

But after the pitch clock came in, Japanese pitchers could not keep up with that tempo and started getting hit.

I have read a news article like that.