Baseball: A Sport of Quick Decisions Amidst Downtime

Baseball has earned a reputation for its long duration and frequent downtime, yet it remains a sport that demands some of the fastest reaction times from its athletes. Following the 2022 MLB season, new rules aimed at speeding up the game reduced the average game time to 2 hours and 38 minutes—the shortest since 1984. However, the “action time,” or the time the ball is in play, averages just 18 minutes per game. It is within these fleeting moments that players’ reaction times are tested, requiring quick and precise decisions to succeed.

Pison’s Innovative Approach to Measuring Reaction Time

Understanding Reaction Time Through the Pison Readiness Test

Pison’s Simple Reaction Test (SRT), also known as the Readiness Test, focuses solely on reaction time from a neurological and physiological perspective. This 20-second test helps athletes identify their cognitive upper limit by measuring reaction time repeatedly to establish consistent scores. This baseline provides valuable insight into an athlete’s inherent capabilities.

Measuring Decision-Making with the Go/No-Go Test

Pison’s Go/No-Go Test (GNG), or Agility Test, evaluates a player’s ability to make quick and accurate decisions, correlating directly to in-game performance. By combining the quickness element of the SRT with decision-making ability, this test mirrors the split-second choices players make during a game.

Reaction Time and Decision Time in Baseball Performance

Decision Time in Game Scenarios

Every action in baseball—from batting to fielding—relies on a combination of reaction and decision time. While reaction time is innate, decision time can improve through baseball-specific training. Monitoring these metrics provides coaches and scouts with valuable data for projecting a player’s developmental potential.

Former MLB player Marc Deschenes, founder and coach at USA Prime New England, emphasizes the importance of reaction time:

“Reaction time is big at the college and pro level… everybody is always chasing how to get better reaction time for their players, all the way down to the youth level.”

Reaction Time at the Plate: A Hitter’s Advantage

Breaking Down the Numbers

Hitters face immense cognitive demands at the plate. Consider the challenge of hitting a 100-mph fastball:

• Time for the ball to reach home plate: 375 milliseconds.

• Time for the brain to recognize the pitch: 75–100 milliseconds.

• Time for a swing to occur: 150 milliseconds.

This leaves approximately 150 milliseconds for the hitter to decide whether to swing. A hitter with superior reaction time may gain up to 25 extra milliseconds to make this decision, potentially giving them an edge in making contact with the ball.

The Impact of Reaction Time on Pitch Recognition

Hitters must quickly identify pitch types—fastballs, offspeed, or breaking balls—and make swing decisions almost instantaneously. Faster reaction times improve a hitter’s ability to adjust and succeed at the plate.

Reaction Time Across the Diamond

Superior reaction and decision times play a vital role in all areas of baseball, including:

• Fielding: Infielders and outfielders rely on quick reactions to judge a ball’s trajectory and make split-second decisions about their route to the ball.
• Catching: Catchers need fast reaction times to throw out runners attempting to steal.
• Baserunning: Base stealers depend on quick reactions to get the best jump off a pitcher.

Measuring What Matters with Pison’s Technology

Pison’s technology has given baseball an unprecedented tool to measure and improve players’ cognitive skills. By assessing reaction and decision times, players and coaches gain actionable insights into areas for development.

The Importance of Measurement

As the saying goes, “You can’t improve what you can’t measure.” While baseball has long recognized the importance of cognitive skills, Pison provides a game-changing way to quantify them.