Pitch count limits set for World Baseball Classic

Pitch count limits have been set for the World Baseball Classic in March of next year, a baseball official here said Wednesday.

“The number of pitches per game by a pitcher will be 65 in the first round, 80 in the second round, and 95 in the semifinals and the final,” the official with the Korea Baseball Organization said, adding that officials from participating countries recently held a meeting in the U.S. to agree on the figures.

These limits are the same as the inaugural WBC from 2006, and down from the 2009 tournament, when the caps were 70 in the first round, 85 in the second round and 100 in the semifinals and the final.

The 2013 event will take place from March 2 to 19. The WBC, which has been held before starts of professional seasons in participating countries, has been limiting pitch counts to protect pitchers.

In addition to the hard caps, a pitcher who throws more than 50 pitches in a game must sit out for four days. Those who throw between 30 and 50 pitches are not eligible to pitch on the following day. (Yonhap News)