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Can a runner cause a pitch clock violation? A pair of pitch clock violations befell batters in Boston and Miami, though Rafael Devers' proved far simpler than Mets batter Jeff McNeil's, which was actually caused by runner Pete Alonso apparently taking too long to return to first base on a foul ball. Article: Facebook: Twitter: Discord: The pitch clock rules state that a batter must be in the box and alert to the pitcher by the eight-second mark on the in-stadium timer. Red Sox batter Rafael Devers fell prey to an automatic strike for this reason during Boston's Opening Day game at Fenway Park when HP Umpire Lance Barksdale called Devers for a violation when Devers was not ready in the box at eight seconds. With a two-strike count at the time, the auto-K resulted in strike three and Devers struck out due to the clock. In Miami, though, HP Umpire Larry Vanover charged Mets batter Jeff McNeil with an automatic strike due to a pitch violation not caused by McNeil himself, but by his teammate, Pete Alonso who was the baserunner at first base, with Vanover appearing to explain to New York manager Buck Showalter that Alonso caused the violation by taking too long to return to first base after McNeil's foul fly ball. The new pitch clock rules do empower umpires to penalize ANY offensive (or defensive) player who engages in tactics deemed violative of the pace of play initiatives, and specifically, umpires are allowed to penalize players who intentionally delay returning to their positions on foul balls and other disruptions, if the umpire deems this is a tactic to delay the game.
