MLB Average Game Time Under Three Hours for Third Straight Year

Jason Foster, reporting for MLB.com:

Nine-inning games during the 2025 season have, on average, clocked in at 2 hours, 38 minutes through Thursday, marking the third straight season in which the average game time was 2:40 or shorter.

Regular Season nine-inning @MLB games of three hours and thirty minutes (3:30) or longer:

  • 2021: 391
  • 2022: 232
  • 2023: 9
  • 2024: 7
  • 2025: 3 (through 9/25)

— MLB Communications (@MLB_PR) September 26, 2025

The trend marks the first time since 1983-85 that the average nine-inning game time was 2:40 or shorter in three consecutive seasons. The average nine-inning game time was 2:36 last season and 2:40 in 2023.

I disagree with many of MLB’s recent rules changes (e.g. the 10th-inning “Manfred Man” ghost runners), but the pitch clock and limit on mound visits have been unambiguous changes for the better. They don’t make the game feel hurried at all, but prior to the pitch clock, the game often felt ponderous.

★ Thursday, 2 October 2025