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MLB Game Length Rises to 2 hours 42 minutes, Robot Umpires Cited as Factor
By Drooid · · How we work
Rising Game Length Amid New Technology
The average duration of a nine-inning Major League Baseball (MLB) game this season is 2 hours 42 minutes, an increase of 3 minutes 43 seconds from the prior year. MLB officials said that 61 seconds of the rise is linked to the Automated Ball-Strike Challenge System, a computer-based appeal process that lets batters, catchers and pitchers contest ball-strike calls.
Historical Context of Game Duration
Game length has fluctuated markedly over the past decade. In 2021 the average reached a record 3 hours 10 minutes. The following season, the PitchCom electronic pitch-calling device was introduced, pulling the average down to 3 hours 04 minutes. When the pitch-clock rule was adopted the next year, the average fell sharply to 2 hours 40 minutes and continued to decline to 2 hours 36 minutes the year after, the shortest span since the 1984 benchmark of 2 hours 35 minutes. The average then rose slightly to 2 hours 38 minutes before the current increase.
Recent Statistical Trend
- 2021: 3 h 10 m (record)
- 2022: 3 h 04 m (after PitchCom)
- 2023: 2 h 40 m (after pitch clock)
- 2024: 2 h 36 m (lowest since 1984)
- 2025: 2 h 38 m
- 2026 season: 2 h 42 m (up 3 m 43 s)
The 61-second contribution from the automated challenge system represents roughly one-quarter of the total increase.
MLB’s Attribution to the Automated System
MLB stated that the new challenge system, sometimes referred to as “robot umpires,” adds time because each appeal initiates a review sequence that pauses play. The league emphasized that the system is intended to improve call accuracy, even as it modestly extends game length.
Potential Implications
Longer games may affect broadcast schedules, stadium staffing and fan experience, especially for viewers accustomed to the shorter contests achieved through the pitch-clock era. MLB’s data suggest that while technology can enhance officiating precision, it also introduces measurable delays that the league will need to balance against its goals for pacing and viewer engagement.
