It took all of one game for the new pitch clock rules to get someone on the Boston Red Sox.

On Opening Day, however, it was not a pitcher, but a hitter, who got owned by the clock. Rafael Devers was the one to get rung up, as home plate umpire Lance Barksdale determined he’d committed a pitch clock violation before a 1-2 pitch, resulting in an automatic strike. And, officially, a strikeout for Orioles reliever Bryan Baker.

Devers also made major league history with that “strikeout,” becoming the first batter ever to be called out on a pitch clock violation in the regular season. Watch the moment below:

• Rafael Devers is the first player in MLB history to be called out on a clock violation pic.twitter.com/uCqKIDj9HS

  — Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) March 30, 2023

• New MLB pitch clock rules state that batters “must be in the box and alert to the pitcher by the 8-second mark or else be charged with an automatic strike.” Devers was in the box by the eight-second mark, but didn’t appear “alert” until about seven or six seconds.

  You can see in the clip that Devers glances out toward the mound before getting set. The NESN broadcast noted that Baker wasn’t even set on the rubber by the time Devers was engaging with him, but that didn’t matter. The only restriction for a pitcher is he must “begin his motion to deliver the pitch before the expiration of the pitch timer.” Devers had to be alert to him by eight seconds, either way.

  It was close, but Devers simply needs to stick to the eight-second rule, and not worry about whether the pitcher is ready to throw.

• 

  BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – MARCH 30: Rafael Devers #11 of the Boston Red Sox bats during the sixth inning against the Baltimore Orioles on Opening Day at Fenway Park on March 30, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Paul Rutherford/Getty Images)

• Red Sox Manager Alex Cora

  #RedSox Manager Cora on Devers being called out with an automatic strike: "No excuses. We know the rules, they know the rules."
  
  That said, Cora thought players were to be given some time latitude after being brushed back or after taking a big swing, as Raffy had just done.

  — Red Sox Nation Stats (@RSNStats) March 30, 2023" rel="noopener" target="_blank">didn’t let Devers off the hook: “No excuses. We know the rules, they know the rules.”

  Annoyingly, the pitch clock didn’t make the Red Sox’ loss to the Orioles any shorter. The full game was clocked at three hours, 10 minutes, thanks mainly to nine walks allowed by Red Sox pitching. But without the pitch clock, a game like that might push four hours.

  The clock’s fine. The Red Sox just need to pitch better, and their hitters need to be ready to swing the bat.

• The Baseball Hour With Tony Mazz | Opening Day Reactions
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  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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