Baseball Fans Praise MLB’s New Pitch Clock During First Opening Day Games

The league’s most substantial rule change has already become a big hit.

MLB’s newly implemented pitch clock made its much-anticipated regular season debut on Thursday, and the early reviews are in: people are loving it.

Opening Day took on a new look this year, with all 30 teams in action for the first time ever. And after a trial run in the minors last season and a spring training debut for the pitch clock this year, people had some time to acclimate themselves to MLB’s new normal. The results from the spring—when game times shrunk by an average of 26 minutes—carried over into Thursday’s action, and viewers were overwhelmingly pleased with the immediate impact.

The first game of the day was between the Yankees and Giants, with New York coming away with a 5–0 victory. The game saw seven different pitchers and 32 combined strikeouts, yet it wrapped up in two hours and 33 minutes.

Across the league, innings flew by at such a pace that baseball fans couldn’t help but laud the new setup. Here are some of the best of the bunch reactions from MLB’s hyper-speed Opening Day.

The new pitch clock is incredible. Corey Kluber just threw a 28-pitch first inning in 10 minutes. There was barely enough time to think about how shaky he looked. I love it. Pitch clock! Baseball!

— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) March 30, 2023

Yankees win and it only took 2 hours and 33 minutes. God bless the pitch clock.

— Jimmy Traina (@JimmyTraina) March 30, 2023

The Yankees-Giants game just wrapped up in 2 hours and 33 minutes.

There was just one pitch clock violation, and that would be the fastest average MLB game in 43 years.

This is going to make baseball so much better.

— Joe Pompliano (@JoePompliano) March 30, 2023

The pitch clock is WREAKING HAVOC on ballpark organists.

— Timothy Burke (@bubbaprog) March 30, 2023

This Red Sox pitching staff is looking a lot like last year's staff. At least this time there's the pitch clock, so they give up runs faster.

— Michael Clair (@michaelsclair) March 30, 2023

After one game I’m a fan of the pitch clock. Instead of watching the lifeless Giants lineup hit for over three hours, it took about 2 hours and 30 minutes for them to get shut out.

— Geoff Schwartz (@geoffschwartz) March 30, 2023

gonna cry at how much I love the pitch clock. Truly don't think people are ready for how much better this will make baseball.

— Brandon McCarthy (@BMcCarthy32) March 30, 2023

How much do I love the pitch clock? pic.twitter.com/Fz6FMHmH1k

— Dave Zirin (@EdgeofSports) March 30, 2023

Pitch clock pic.twitter.com/Af004gHI3q

— kyle (@knicks_tape99) March 30, 2023

Watching opening day and my analysis of the pitch clock is 10/10, absolutely love it, also why didn’t they do this sooner. It feels like I’m watching a new sport almost.

— Royce Young (@royceyoung) March 30, 2023