Players will receive a grace period in April when pitch clocks are implemented at Double-A and Triple-A ballparks.

Minor League Baseball’s governing body said Tuesday that starting May 1, a ball will be called when a pitcher fails to start his windup or reach the set position 20 seconds after receiving the ball on the mound.

The clock will be reset with runners on base when a pitcher feints a pickoff or steps off the rubber, or after any action that allows a hitter to leave the batter’s box. Depending on the situation, the hitter must be in the batter’s box or within the dirt circle surrounding the plate when the countdown begins.

Players will receive warnings in April.

Clocks are being installed at 60 ballparks, paid for by Major League Baseball Advanced Media, the interactive branch of MLB. There will be two clocks behind the plate and one in the outfield.

The speed-up rules are more radical than those instituted in the majors, where players’ association approval was needed.

Both the major and minor leagues will have clocks timing pitching changes and between-inning breaks: 2 minutes, 25 seconds for most games and 2:45 for big league games on national television.

The majors also plan to enforce the rule used in the minors that requires a hitter to keep at least one foot in the batter’s box in many instances. Penalties in the major leagues are limited to warnings and fines.

In the minors, a hitter must be in the batter’s box and “alert to the pitch” with five or more seconds left. A first infraction would result in a warning, then a strike against the batter.

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