MLB maintaining trend of quicker games, more steals and hits

Nearly a quarter of the way into the 2023 regular season, the rule changes MLB implemented this year are continuing to have their intended effects -- namely, a quicker pace resulting in a significant reduction in overall time of games, more hits and more steal attempts.

As a result of the new pitch timer, through May 11 -- a total of 565 games across MLB, which represents 23.3 percent of the regular season -- the average time of a nine-inning game decreased by 28 minutes from the same point in 2022. The current average time of game is 2 hours and 37 minutes, down from an average at this point last year of 3 hours and 5 minutes.

The pitch timer seems to be providing enough time between pitches, too. On average, pitchers have begun their deliveries with between 6.6 seconds and 8.1 seconds remaining on the clock, depending on whether they were beginning a new inning or just coming into the game (clock set at 2 minutes and 15 seconds), pitching with nobody on base (15 seconds) or pitching with runners on base (20 seconds).

Another major rule change implemented this season is a restriction on infield shifts, requiring a minimum of four players with both feet on the infield prior to each pitch, and two players on each side of second base. The result so far? The average BABIP (batting average on balls in play) has gone from .290 to .296.

The biggest increase in BABIP has been on ground balls pulled to the right side by left-handed batters -- that figure has jumped 35 points from this time last season, as teams are unable to position an infielder in short right field. And overall BABIP has also increased significantly for left-handed hitters, from .283 to .293.

With bigger bases in 2023, as well as limits on pitcher disengagements on the mound, pickoff attempts are down and both steal attempts and success rate are up. Stolen-base attempts per game are up to 1.8, the highest level in 11 years. The current success rate of 78.3 percent is the highest in MLB history. Pickoff attempts, meanwhile, are down by one per game, from six to five.

Along with the positive results so far, players seem to be adjusting well to the new rules, with violation rates generally decreasing as the season has progressed. Overall, there were no violations in 52 percent of the games through May 11.