What is Pace? Definition, Formula, and Example
Pace is a Statcast metric that measures the average time a pitcher takes between releasing one pitch and releasing the next.
What is Pace?
Pace is a Statcast metric that measures the average time a pitcher takes between releasing one pitch and releasing the next pitch within a single plate appearance. Expressed in seconds, it quantifies how fast or slow a pitcher works. A low pace means the pitcher works quickly, keeping defenders engaged and speeding up the rhythm of the game. A high pace means the pitcher takes longer, deliberately disrupting the timing of the hitter or taking extra time to recover physically between high-effort deliveries.
How Pace is Calculated
Statcast calculates Pace by taking the total time elapsed between pitch releases during a specific plate appearance, dividing it by the number of intervals between those pitches, and then averaging those intervals across a full season. If a pitcher throws a first pitch at 0 seconds and a second pitch at 20 seconds, the interval is 20 seconds. A pitcher's overall Pace is the mean of all these between-pitch intervals across all batters faced. Since the introduction of the MLB pitch clock, the practical range of Pace has been heavily compressed, with most modern pitchers operating between 12 and 20 seconds depending on whether runners are on base.
Worked Example
During the 2023 season, Philadelphia Phillies right-hander Zack Wheeler ranked among the fastest workers in baseball. He averaged a Pace of roughly 13.5 seconds between pitches. Wheeler's rapid delivery allowed him to breeze through innings, keeping his infielders on their toes and maintaining a defensive rhythm. Conversely, a pitcher like Craig Kimbrel historically operated at a much slower Pace, frequently averaging over 20 seconds between pitches in past seasons. Kimbrel deliberately used this extended Pace to maximize his breathing recovery and build tension for the hitter, though the modern pitch clock has forced him to accelerate his routine.
Why Pace Matters
Pace matters for several distinct stakeholders. Front offices and managers care about Pace because faster-working pitchers keep their fielders engaged, which indirectly supports defensive metrics like OAA and Range Factor. Broadcasters and fans care because high-pace pitchers keep the game moving. For fantasy baseball and DFS players, a pitcher with a fast Pace is highly desirable because they are more likely to work deep into games, exceeding the innings volume required to rack up strikeouts and Quality Starts. Pitchers with a slow Pace often burn through high pitch counts early, forcing early exits and limiting their statistical output.
Limitations and Common Misconceptions
The primary limitation of Pace is that it measures tempo, not pitch quality. A pitcher can have an elite, lightning-fast Pace and still possess a terrible ERA or WHIP. Pace does not account for pitch execution, Spin Rate, or command. Additionally, the MLB pitch clock has largely neutralized the extremes of Pace. Before the clock, pitchers could stretch Pace to 25 seconds or more; now, violations result in automatic balls, fundamentally changing how much a pitcher can manipulate this metric. Pace is also distinct from the pitch clock itself—it is the actual average time taken, not the legal limit allowed.
Related Terms
In Legends Deck: Pace acts as a hidden simulation modifier. Pitchers with elite Pace ratings generate slight stamina boosts in the later innings of simulated games, preventing the sharp fatigue penalties that slower-working pitchers face when facing a lineup for the third time.