Every big-league player is using this spring training to get acquainted to the new MLB rules. Pitchers have to deal with a pitch clock and pickoff limit, and batters also have to be ready to hit by the eight-second mark.
But those rules don’t account for a PitchCom malfunction. Zack Greinke learned that as it happened on Tuesday night.
During a Cactus League game between the Royals and Reds, Greinke was having some issues with his PitchCom. And rather than taking a pitch clock violation to address the problem, Greinke broke out the most Greinke of pitches: his 47 mph eephus pitch.
Zack Greinke was having issues with his PitchCom device and instead of taking a clock violation, he just throws a 47 MPH eephus pitch pic.twitter.com/PGvP4WQdYV
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) March 15, 2023
The pitch was taken low for a ball. A pitch clock violation also would have been a ball, so the pitch technically didn’t make much of a difference. But it’s always hilarious when we get to see Greinke break out the eephus pitch — even when he didn’t want to.
Greinke took a pitch clock violation earlier in the inning and struck out Joey Votto on the next pitch.
Zack Greinke, Getting Signs/Pitch Clock Violation…then K'ing Votto on the next pitch. 😂 pic.twitter.com/dwbwvvHoFX
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) March 15, 2023
So, he’s able to work through either approach. Fans, in particular, enjoyed seeing how Greinke handled the situation.