AFC Champions League" Will the 20-second pitching timer defeat Japan? Pitching coach talks about new system test

Pitch timer. (File photo, Associated Press)

[Reporter Ni Wanjun/Comprehensive Report] The 2026 Asian Professional Baseball Championship will start at the Tokyo Dome on the 12th. A pitch clock (pitch clock) will be introduced for the first time this year. Japanese team pitching coach Kurano Shinji said today that since the pitching time limit when there is no one on the base is 20 seconds, it should not cause too big a problem. In comparison, secondary vocational schools this year have shortened the pitching time to 18 seconds if there is no one on base and 23 seconds if there is a man on base. Taiwanese team pitchers are no stranger to timing regulations.

"Sponichi Annex" reported that the Japanese team, which is striving for three consecutive victories in the AFC Champions League, is currently training in Miyazaki. Kurano was interviewed after today's practice and pointed out that the pitchers should not be confused about adapting at present, but the real test is still in actual combat. "When the batter really stands in the strike zone and the pitcher has to think about countermeasures and decide to distribute the ball at the same time, he will feel that there is not enough time."

Kurano believes that the 20-second limit when the bases are empty in this tournament should not cause too big a problem, but he also said that stricter pitching timing regulations may appear in future international competitions, and pitchers will still have to continue to adapt.

In addition, the World Baseball and Softball Council (WBSC)-certified ball will be used in this AFC Champions League. Kurano said that compared with the ball used in the classic game, the feel difference of the ball used this time should be smaller, but not exactly the same. I believe the pitchers can adjust smoothly.

The Taiwanese team, led by Gao Zhigang, is currently training at the Xinzhuang Baseball Stadium. It is scheduled to have warm-up matches with Wei Chuan Long and CITIC Brothers tomorrow and the day after tomorrow. It will leave for Japan on the 10th and will have its first match against the Japanese team, the landlord, at 6 o'clock in the evening on the 12th.