San Diego Padres outfielder Juan Soto (25) is unfamiliar with the new rules.
In an interview ahead of the home game against the Atlanta Braves held on the 18th (Korean time) at Petco Park in San Diego, California, USA, Soto expressed his thoughts on the newly introduced pitch clock rule, saying, “I don’t have enough time.”
The pitch clock limits the pitcher’s preparation time, 안전놀이터but also stipulates that the batter must enter the plate within the time limit. A strike is awarded automatically if the rules are not followed. 30 seconds are given after the batter in front has digested the at-bat, and they must be ready to hit before the pitch clock reaches 8 seconds.
“It doesn’t matter if it takes a long time,” says Soto. You’ll see hitters jump from the waiting at-bat to the plate. Every batter has their own routine. Everyone wants to focus on having their own routine. Once you’ve got the point you want, nothing else matters. That process is the biggest problem,” he said.
He was running out of time and batting, so he didn’t even have time to exchange words with the catcher. He said, “I don’t talk anymore. There is no time for that. I can no longer engage in psychological warfare,” he explained about the change.
He also introduced an anecdote that happened when he ran out of words at the plate. “When I was playing against the Mets, Nido [Mets catcher Thomas Nido] said, ‘Why don’t you talk? Are you mad?’ So he replied, ‘I’m not angry, I don’t have time to talk’. Everyone was accustomed to exchanging words at the plate, but now they are quietly batting.”
It is quite an unfamiliar change for him, who used to enjoy psychological warfare by exchanging words with the catcher at bat. He expressed regret that the rule change had taken away what he enjoyed, saying, “Everyone will have a moment at least where they want to trashtalk each other back and forth.”
Is it the aftermath of the new regulations? Soto has been sluggish at the beginning of the season. In 18 games, he has a batting average of .164, on-base percentage, .346, slugging percentage, .361, 3 home runs and 7 RBI. He has a league-leading 17 walks, a 30% on-base percentage and a 70% OPS, but his 100% batting average isn’t down.
He currently has no hits in five consecutive games. According to ‘ESPN’, it is the second longest hitting drought of his career. His batting average of .164 is the lowest in his career based on two or more games played in a season.
He said, “This is just the beginning. The face is good. I can see the ball better. It will be fine. I am still concentrating on my work. Whatever the outcome, I will do my part. I know the results will follow.”
The fact that he continues to go on base makes him expect a rebound. “We are looking for ways to help the team. Whether I bunt or get hit, I get on base and have my teammates call me in. If the team can win, whether it is runners or defense, we can do anything,” he said.