The NPB released a list of pitchers and hitters ranked by the shortest time between pitches as part of their ongoing efforts to shorten the length of games. The top ranked pitchers and hitters will be eligible for the Speed Up Award. Below are the rankings for pitchers.

Time between pitches with bases empty (through July 13)

Central League

Rank Name JPN Name ENG Team Time IP 1 高木 勇人 Takagi, Hayato Yomiuri 10.9 84.2 2 井納 翔一 Ino, Shoichi Yokohama 11.0 101.1 3 田口 麗斗 Taguchi, Kazuto Yomiuri 11.1 90.1 4 マテオ Mateo, Marcos Hanshin 11.1 34.2 5 山中 浩史 Yamanaka, Hirofumi Yakult 11.3 74.2 6 三上 朋也 Mikami, Tomoya Yokohama 11.5 32.2 7 ジョンソン Johnson, Kris Hiroshima 11.8 114.1 8 野村 祐輔 Nomura, Yusuke Hiroshima 11.9 93.2 9 ジョーダン Norberto, Jordan Chunichi 11.9 80.0 10 若松 駿太 Wakamatsu, Shunta Chunichi 11.9 95.1

Pacific League

Rank Name JPN Name ENG Team Time IP 1 牧田 和久 Makita, Kazuhisa Seibu 8.0 48.0 2 小石 博孝 Koishi, Hirotaka Seibu 9.4 46.1 3 メンドーサ Mendoza, Luis Nippon Ham 10.4 95.2 4 吉川 光夫 Nippon Ham Nippon Ham 10.5 74.1 5 髙橋 光成 Takahashi, Kona Seibu 10.8 76.0 6 ディクソン Dickson, Brandon Orix 10.8 98.0 7 和田 毅 Wada, Tsuyoshi Softbank 11.6 97.2 8 東明 大貴 Tomei, Daiki Orix 11.6 73.2 9 南 昌輝 Minami, Masaki Lotte 11.6 37.2 10 二木 康太 Futaki, Kota Lotte 11.9 79.2

Source: NPB announcement