MLB Pitch Clock is Helping Player Recovery

Night baseball game

How does a pitch clock lead to more recovery for Major League Baseball players and coaches?

As sleep expert Dr. Meeta Singh observes, there are four distinct factors that make recovery difficult for a professional baseball player:

Demanding schedule: The MLB regular season consists of 162 games over approximately six months, with games often played back-to-back or with minimal rest. “This demanding schedule can lead to sleep deprivation, as players may not have enough time to recover between games,” she explains.

Travel: MLB teams travel extensively throughout the season, often crossing multiple time zones. “This frequent travel can disrupt players’ circadian rhythms and make it difficult for them to adjust to new time zones, resulting in jet lag and poor sleep quality,” she says.

Late game times: Many MLB games start late in the evening and can go on for several hours. “Late game times can lead to irregular sleep patterns, as players may not be able to fall asleep until the early hours of the morning,” she says. “This is why the rule change is relevant because it makes the game shorter.”

Performance pressure: “The high-pressure environment of professional baseball can contribute to sleep difficulties, as players may experience increased stress and anxiety related to their performance, particularly during high-stakes games or playoff series.”

Shorter games lead to less time on your feet and more recovery time, according to Miami Marlins' manager Skip Schumaker. This allows players and coaches to maintain a more consistent wind-down routine, which helps improve sleep, and ultimately, recovery.

Sources:

Sleepopolis

Alexandra Frost

Meeta Singh, MD