What penalties apply when a pitcher or batter violates Major League Baseball’s pitch timer rules?

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Freddie Freeman of the Los Angeles Dodgers, wearing a white uniform and helmet, watches his hit while holding a bat during a game at Dodger Stadium. — Baseball Freddie Freeman, shown here in a 2023 game, was named World Series MVP in 2024 after hitting four home runs and driving in 12 runs for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

In Major League Baseball, specific penalties are enforced when players fail to adhere to the pitch clock regulations:

Pitcher Violation: If a pitcher fails to begin his motion to pitch before the timer expires, the batter is awarded an automatic ball.1
Batter Violation: If a batter is not in the box and ready for a pitch by the 8-second mark on the timer, an automatic strike is assessed against them.1

Additionally, pitchers are limited to two disengagements (such as stepping off the mound or throwing to a base) per batter. If a pitcher attempts a third pick-off throw and it is unsuccessful, the runner is automatically awarded the next base.1