South Carolina Baseball: SEC Implements New Rules for 2023

South Carolina baseball (and the rest of the SEC) will have some new rules and policies in place for conference games and the SEC Tournament.

On Tuesday, the Southeastern Conference announced that the changes are intended to “reduce game times and elevate the fan experience.”

Most of these new policies involve a clock.

In conjunction with the already-existent NCAA-enforced 20-second pitch clock, a 30-second clock will be in place between batters. The clock will begin at the conclusion of the previous play, usually indicated by an umpire’s “safe” or “out” call, and “the batter shall be alert to the pitcher” before the 10-second mark on the clock. The pitcher will begin his pitching motion before the expiration of the clock, meaning that the pitching clock will begin ten seconds after the start of the between-batter clock.

Two more clocks will be enforced around pitching substitutions.

A “mound visit clock” will require coaches or defensive players to begin their return to the dugout (for coaches) or their own position (for defensive players) after initiating a mound visit. The clock will begin when a coach leaves the dugout or when a defensive player leaves his natural position. The 20-second pitch clock will begin at the end of the 30-second clock. Visits stemming from medical or equipment concerns would not trigger the clock. If a pitching change is commencing, a coach or defensive player does not have to return to the dugout or their position until a different clock expires.

A longer, 2:30 clock would begin when a new pitcher enters the game. The new pitcher would have two minutes and thirty seconds from crossing the warning track (if coming from an outfield bullpen), leaving an in-play bullpen area (if the bullpen is within the bounds of play), leaving the dugout (if coming from the dugout), or leaving their defensive position (if coming from an already on-the-field spot). The 20-second pitch clock would begin at the conclusion of the 2:30 clock. This rule would be in effect whether the pitching change was made at the beginning of an inning or mid-inning. Medical substitutions would not be held to this clock.

A 10-run mercy rule will be in effect after seven innings. If one team leads the other by double digits after seven completed innings, the game will end. The mercy rule will be utilized during out-of-conference play, as well, pending the approval of the non-conference coaching staff.

Because college baseball is a sport played by students, the SEC has a curfew in place for Sunday games that are delayed by weather. A new rule will now allow for games to be started later (though no later than 10 PM) and resumed later (though no later than 12AM) as long as the visiting team does not have classes the next day.