The Cost of Speed

Analyzing the collision between the Pitch Clock and Pitcher Health

The Question

In 2023, Major League Baseball introduced the most radical rule change in the sport’s history: The Pitch Clock.

The goal was simple: eliminate dead time and make the game more exciting. By that metric, it was a massive success. Games were shorter, crisper, and more action-packed.

But there was a hidden variable. As the chart above demonstrates, pitchers were forced into a recovery window they had never experienced before. Yet, they refused to sacrifice velocity. This project investigates the physiological cost of that decision.

Explore the Analysis

Part 1: The Shift

How the game changed overnight. We visualize the data behind the new pace and the immediate correlation with the rise in elbow injuries. → Go to The Clock Analysis

Part 2: The Red Zone

Why didn’t they just slow down? An interactive deep-dive into specific injured aces (like Jacob deGrom and Felix Bautista) to see how they maintained max velocity even as their bodies reached the breaking point. → Go to Velocity Analysis

About this Project

Author: Luke Kimball

Data Source: MLB Statcast & Baseball Savant

Tools: R, ggplot2, Plotly, Quarto