Red Sox Notebook: Red Sox get introduced to MLB's pitch clock

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- With the start of the Grapefruit League season underway Saturday, the Red Sox and New York Yankees got their first taste of Major League Baseball's 20-second pitch clock.

MLB announced Friday that for the first few days of spring training, there would be no official enforcement of the rules, to give players some time to get accustomed to clock. Next week, umpires will begin reminding pitchers and hitters of the clock, though no penalties will be enforced.



Later in the spring, as negotiations between MLB and the Players Association continue, decisions will be made about extending the rule into the regular season and when penalties will be enforced.

But Saturday was the start and took place with the players hardly noticing.

"I did not notice it,'' said infielder Michael Chavis, after the Red Sox edged the Yankees, 8-5. "We had a conversation about it before the game, how it was going to be introduced like a trial in the first week, but it wasn't something I really concerned myself with. Generally, I like to think I'm not the slowest guy getting ready for an at-bat, so it wasn't something I've concerned myself with.''

Chavis also played at Double A and Triple A last year, where the rule has been effect for a while.

"I thought it was OK,'' added Alex Cora. "Right now, it doesn't count. But we were talking about it. It's spring training. The games are going to slow down (with pitching changes later in the game). But I like catching the ball, throwing strikes and that's going to speed up the game. But today, we didn't notice it.''

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After a bit of a rough afternoon at second base Friday in the game against Northeastern, Chavis was back at third base Saturday and contributed a three-run homer to the opposite field in the Red Sox' five-run second inning.

"It's good to have that kind of success early on,'' said Chavis, "but it's not something that you focus on. We've got so much going on day-to-day and it's cool to see your hard work pay off, but it's not the end goal. What we're working toward long-term isn't home runs in major league spring training. Not that it's not cool -- it's awesome.

"Although it's a good experience and something I'm really happy about it, it's not the final (goal).''

He did, however, same some satisfaction to hit the ball out the other way.

"A little bit more has to go right with your swing (for that to happen),'' said Chavis. "You can kind of cheat a few times and hit it out to the pull side. I feel like a lot of people can do it pull side, but not everybody can go the other way. So that was something I liked.''

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The Sox meet Minnesota Sunday at home. Cora said to expect Rafael Devers at third base, Xander Bogaerts at shortstop, Brock Holt at second, Sam Travis at first base and outfield including Andrew Benintendi and Jackie Bradley Jr., with Eduardo Nunez at DH and Christian Vazquez behind the plate.

Mookie Betts won't play in a game until Wednesday, with the Sox slated for road games both Monday (Bradenton against the Pirates) and Tuesday (Dunedin against the Blue Jays).