New Red Sox closer Kenley Jansen was one of the team’s biggest free-agent signings of the off-season, and can still be effective in his mid-30s, based on his league-leading 34 saves in 2022. But there’s one particular area that he will absolutely have to improve: his time between pitches.

Jansen had the third-slowest “pitch tempo” in the major leagues in 2022, according to Baseball Savant, with a median time between pitches of 25.6 seconds with the bases empty. He was the absolute slowest with runners on base, at a preposterous 31.4 seconds.

But now, Jansen will work on becoming a lot faster between pitches. Because, well, he has to.

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  PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – OCTOBER 15: Kenley Jansen #74 of the Atlanta Braves reacts to a home run by Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies during the eighth inning in game four of the National League Division Series at Citizens Bank Park on October 15, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

• Jansen spoke to reporters at Red Sox spring training for the first time on Wednesday. He acknowledged his issues with pitch tempo and the adjustment he will have to make now that MLB is implementing a pitch clock for 2023. He is skipping the World Baseball Classic to work on it.

  “As much as I want to compete for the World Baseball Classic, I just want to make sure – knowing that I’m the slowest guy in the league – I want to adapt to that quickly,” Jansen said at JetBlue Park, via Christopher Smith of MassLive. “That’s why I choose to make sure I’ll be here in camp. And like I say, get to know my teammates and also adapt to certain stuff.

  “I‘d love to go play for [WBC Team] Netherlands … I also want to be here and know my crew. And also adapt to the pitch clock.”

  Well, that’s a plus. Jansen is not only quite self-aware, but ready and willing to work on fixing his slowness. Knowing the frequent selfishness and petulance of baseball players when it comes to time, it’s refreshing to hear Jansen be brutally honest about his own shortcomings, and a promising sign that we won’t see much defiance of the new rules from players.

• How The Pitch Clock Works

  

  PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – OCTOBER 15: Kenley Jansen #74 of the Atlanta Braves throws a pitch against the Philadelphia Phillies during the eighth inning in game four of the National League Division Series at Citizens Bank Park on October 15, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

• There’s a comprehensive look at all the new MLB rules in 2023 at the Red Sox website. But here’s a quick rundown of how the pitch timer will work:

  — 30-second timer between batters

  — 15-second timer between pitches with the bases empty

  — 20-second timer between pitches with runners on base

  — Pitcher must “go into his motion” before the timer expires, or be charged with an automatic ball

  — Pitcher is allowed two “disengagements” from the mound (pick-off attempts and regular step-offs); further disengagements result in a balk

  — Batter must be in the box and “alert to the pitcher” by the 8-second mark, or be charged with an automatic strike

  The article at MLB.com also acknowledges the nuances that baseball will have to work through, primarily what constitutes a pitcher “going into his motion.” Pitcher windups and deliveries are like fingerprints; everyone is different. So that might be an early challenge for umpires, if and when pitchers push the pitch clock to its limit.

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  ATLANTA, GEORGIA – OCTOBER 12: Kenley Jansen #74 of the Atlanta Braves reacts during the ninth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies in game two of the National League Division Series at Truist Park on October 12, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

• But nonetheless, it’s good for the Red Sox and their fans to know that Jansen doesn’t plan on flouting the rule in any way, and will actually work toward improving his pitch tempo. He easily could’ve just gone to the World Baseball Classic and then been sloppy with the pitch timer during the season. But of course, actions speak louder than words, and Jansen has some work to do.

  Other Red Sox pitchers who will need to work on their tempo, based on their median time between pitches with the bases empty last season: John Schreiber (20.7 seconds), Tanner Houck (20.3), and Ryan Brasier (20.0). In fact, no Red Sox pitcher had a pitch tempo of 15 seconds or under in 2022, so pretty much everyone has work to do. Even the typically fast-working Chris Sale (16.7) will have to pick up the pace a tiny bit.

  This will be the most interesting rule change to watch in the 2023 baseball season, but it promises to quicken the pace and shorten games, something baseball has desperately needed for years.

• Click here for complete Boston Red Sox coverage at 985TheSportsHub.com.

  Matt Dolloff is a writer and podcaster for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Have a news tip, question, or comment for Matt? Yell at him on Twitter @mattdolloff and follow him on Instagram @realmattdolloff. Check out all of Matt’s content here.

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