The introduction of the pitch clock changed the rhythm of baseball in a big way, forcing pitchers to speed up their routines whether they liked it or not. While plenty of modern arms have adjusted, there are some former pitchers who would’ve absolutely hated this new pace of play.
We’re talking about guys who thrived on long stares, deep breaths, and games that dragged well into the night. These former pitchers would’ve been losing their minds trying to beat the clock and stay in rhythm at the same time.
14. Hideo Nomo
Nomo’s funky windup took its sweet time and felt like a mini performance before each pitch. The pitch clock would’ve rushed his whole act and probably thrown his timing out of whack.
13. Jonathan Papelbon
Papelbon lived for the drama, and he dragged out the ninth innings like it was Broadway. The clock would’ve cut his theatrics short and taken away part of his edge.
12. Clay Buchholz
Buchholz’s pace was infamously slow, often frustrating hitters, fans, and even his own teammates. The pitch clock would’ve forced him to operate way outside of his comfort zone.
11. Steve Trachsel
Nicknamed the “Human Rain Delay,” Trachsel practically invented slow pacing on the mound. If the pitch clock had existed during his career, he might have retired early out of protest.
10. Pedro Báez
Báez was notorious for taking forever between pitches, often testing the patience of everyone watching. The pitch clock would’ve left him scrambling just to get the ball out of his glove in time.
9. Jose Valverde
Valverde was all about flair, antics, and methodical pacing when closing games. There’s no way he would’ve enjoyed being rushed through his whole routine.
8. Dennis Eckersley
Eck liked to set his own tempo and work the moment like a veteran stage actor. The pitch clock would’ve felt like an insult to his carefully curated vibe.
7. Joba Chamberlain
Chamberlain was never one to move quickly, often taking long pauses to reset. He would’ve been flagged for violations before the first week of the season was over.
6. Eric Gagné
Gagné’s intimidating aura partially came from how deliberate he was between pitches. Speeding him up might’ve chipped away at that dominance.
5. David Wells
Wells didn’t exactly operate at lightning speed, especially when he was working through hitters methodically. The pitch clock might’ve thrown off his whole rhythm and made him visibly cranky.
4. Jamie Moyer
Moyer was deliberate, cerebral, and never in a rush to do anything. A 15-second window would’ve felt like sprinting to a guy who built a career on pacing and precision.
Read More: 10 Pitchers Who Would’ve Dominated with Modern Pitch Clocks
3. Brad Penny
Penny had a slow windup and didn’t like to be rushed—something the pitch clock would’ve challenged every single inning. His frustration would’ve been visible from the dugout.
Read More: 15 Base Stealers Who Would Have Crushed in the Pitch Clock Era
2. Al Hrabosky
“The Mad Hungarian” built his whole persona around elaborate routines and intense stare-downs. The pitch clock would’ve killed his whole bit and turned him into just another guy on the mound.
Read More: 20 Base Stealers Who Were Ahead of Today’s Faster Game
1. Mike Hargrove
Yes, he was technically a hitter, but his glacial pace would’ve rubbed off on every pitcher he faced. Just thinking about trying to pitch to him with a clock ticking would’ve sent some guys spiraling.
