Ortiz in favor of pitch clock, says baseball is 'turning a little boring'

Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred's pace-of-play initiatives have received an unlikely supporter: David Ortiz.

Having spent the last year watching baseball rather than playing it, Ortiz has determined the game isn't nearly as exciting when you're a spectator.

"The game is turning a little boring. Now that I'm on this side watching the game, I know," Ortiz told reporters Friday. "I think MLB needs to do whatever it takes to keep up with the pace of the game. If you want to have the millennials watching the game, you definitely need to do something."

Pace of play has been a major talking point in baseball this week after the Players' Association rejected proposed changes from the league that included a 20-second pitch clock and a limit on mound visits. Manfred could still use his power to implement a pitch clock without the players' approval but has said he would rather work out an agreement than force something.

Ortiz was notorious for slowing down the game as a player, constantly stepping out of the batter's box between pitches to adjust his equipment or refocus. He did, however, adapt to the pace-of-play rules in 2015 that required hitters to keep at least one foot in the batter's box.