Last year Corbin Burnes was a frequent user of MLB’s PitchCom system. The device allows a pitcher and catcher to communicate as to what the next pitch will be without having to rely on the catcher putting down any signals. This year, with the addition of a pitch clock, Burnes is experimenting with calling his own pitches.
The pitch clock/timer gives pitchers 15 seconds to throw a pitch with the bases empty and 20 seconds with a runner on base. If a pitcher has not started the motion of pitching before the clock expires, a ball will be issued. In an effort to get on the same page with the catcher quicker Burnes called a few of his own pitches during his first spring training game.
In this video, Brewers ace Corbin Burnes discusses calling a few of his own pitches during his first spring training game.
An in-game chat with Corbin Burnes on the chilly weather, calling his own pitches via PitchCom and getting in sync with William Contreras. pic.twitter.com/xAH4Vn0YxX
— Adam McCalvy (@AdamMcCalvy) March 2, 2023
Thursday was Burnes’ first start of spring training. He says his biggest goals during this start were getting comfortable with the pitch clock, getting comfortable with the PitchCom, and getting comfortable with calling his own pitches. Overall he pitched 2.1 innings, surrendered two earned runs, gave up one hit, one walk, and struck out two batters.
When asked about how many pitches he called during the game, Burnes provided the following response.
“A handful. I called a couple first pitches, you know (after a) strikeout, balls getting thrown around, calling pitches then, just knowing what I wanted to do. Instead of shaking, just calling (a pitch) then. It’s just a way to eliminate getting down against the pitch clock.
Burnes goes on to discuss that while pitching in simulated games this spring he got into trouble with the pitch clock by shaking off pitches. To hear that he is having to make adjustments is not too surprising for in a previous article we discussed that he may be one of two Brewers impacted by the pitch clock.
Last year, Burnes’ timer equivalence statistic with no runners on base was 15.1 seconds. This just barely misses the new timing/tempo standard of 15 seconds. With runners on base, Burnes was at 19.2 seconds last year, which is just barely under the allotted 20 seconds.
It appears that his strategy to avoid pitch clock violations will be to call his own pitches, especially to start off an at-bat.
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