Baseball Pitching Velocity Training

Little League Rules PitchingHere are the Little League Rules Pitching which covers pitch counts. Read to the end to learn the latest science on pitch counts and how it isn't effective.

(a) Any regular-season team member may pitch.

Exception: Any athlete who has played catcher in a game for four (4) innings or more is ineligible to pitch on that calendar day.

A player who has played catcher for three (3) innings or fewer, goes to the pitcher position, and throws 21 pitches or more in the same day (15- and 16-year-olds: 31 pitches or more) may not return to the catcher position on that calendar day. EXCEPTION: If a pitcher reaches the 20-pitch limit (15- and 16-year-olds: 30-pitch limit) while facing a batter, the pitcher may continue to pitch and retain their eligibility to return to catcher until one of the following conditions occurs: (1) that batter reaches base; (2) that batter is retired; (3) the third out is made to complete the half-inning or the game; or (4) the pitcher is removed from the mound prior to the batter completing his/her at-bat.

Approved ruling: A catcher receiving one pitch to a batter in the fourth inning counts as four (4) innings caught. Warm-up pitches do not count toward innings caught; they only count while the ball is in play.

(b) A pitcher who has been removed from the mound may not return to the mound.

Only the Intermediate (50-70) Division, the Junior League, and the Senior League: A pitcher who remains on defense but moves to a different position throughout the game can return as a pitcher at any moment during the rest of the game, but only once.

(c) The manager must withdraw the pitcher when he or she reaches the age limit for his or her age group, as specified below, but the pitcher may continue to play at another position:

Little League Rules Pitching by League Age

AGEPITCHES PER DAY
6-850 Pitches
9-1075 Pitches
11-1285 Pitches
13-1695 Pitches

Little League Rules PitchingException: If a pitcher hits the league age limit stipulated by Regulation VI(c) while facing a batter, the pitcher may continue to pitch until any of the following events occurs:

  1. The batter advances to second base
  2. The batter is out;
  3. The third out is made to conclude the half-inning;
  4. The pitcher is removed from the mound before the hitter completes his/her at bat.

NOTE: If a pitcher throws 40 pitches while facing a batter, the pitcher may continue to pitch and stay eligible to play catcher for the rest of the day, unless one of the following scenarios occurs:(1) the batter advances to second base; (2) the batter is retired; (3) the third out is recorded to end the half inning or game; or (4) the pitcher is removed from the mound before the hitter completes his/her at-bat. The pitcher would be allowed to play catcher as long as the pitcher is moved, removed, or the game is over before pitching to next hitter. If a player throws 41 pitches or more and is not covered by the threshold exception, the player may not play catcher for the rest of the day.

(d) Pitchers aged 14 and younger must fulfill the rest criteria outlined below:

NOTE 1: A player may not pitch in three (3) consecutive days under any circumstances.

NOTE 2: The first pitch thrown to a hitter determines a pitcher's pitch count for the purposes of the day(s) rest criteria. Once the limit specified by Regulation VI(c) has been reached, the pitcher may not start a new batter.

Little League Rules Pitching by Days Rest Thresholds

PITCHESRESTAGE
1-200 Days14 and Under
21-351 Day14 and Under
36-502 Days14 and Under
51-653 Days14 and Under
66+4 Days14 and Under
1-300 Day15 & 16
31-451 Day15 & 16
46-602 Days15 & 16
61-753 Days15 & 16
76+4 Days15 & 16

Little League Rules PitchingNOTE 1: A player may not pitch in three (3) consecutive days under any circumstances.

NOTE 2: The first pitch thrown to a hitter determines a pitcher's pitch count for the purposes of the day(s) rest criteria. Once the limit specified by Regulation VI(c) has been reached, the pitcher may not start a new batter.

(e) The scorekeeper or another game official must be designated as the official pitch count recorder by each league.

(f) When either the manager or an umpire requests it, the pitch count recorder must report the current pitch count for any pitcher. The manager, on the other hand, is accountable for knowing when his or her pitcher must be pulled.

(g) When a pitcher has thrown his/her maximum limit of pitches for the game, as specified in Regulation VI(c), the official pitch count recorder should notify the Umpire-in-Chief. According to Regulation VI(c), the Umpire-in-Chief will notify the pitcher's manager that the pitcher must be removed. The failure of the pitch count recorder to notify the Umpire-in-Chief and/or the Umpire-in-Chief to notify the manager, on the other hand, does not absolve the manager of the responsibility to remove a pitcher when that pitcher is no longer eligible.

(h) Any violation of this regulation may result in a protest of the game in which it happens. Protests must be submitted in accordance with Playing Rule 4.19.

(j) Minor League: A player must be twelve (12) years old to pitch in the minor league. (See Regulation V - Player Selection.)

Junior League: A local league's Board of Directors may forbid 15-year-olds from pitching in the Junior Division.

(k) Pitching in many games in a single day:

A player may not pitch in more than one game in a day in the Minor League, Little League (Majors), and Intermediate (50-70) Divisions.

Little League Rules PitchingLittle League Rules Pitching for Junior League and Senior League - A player may pitch in up to two games in a single day. EXCEPTION: A 12-year-old pitcher in the Junior and/or Senior Divisions is not permitted to pitch in two games in a single day. NOTE: If a pitcher reaches 30 pitches while facing a batter in the first game, the pitcher may continue to pitch and be eligible to pitch in the second game on that day unless any of the following circumstances is met: (1) the batter advances to second base; (2) the batter is retired; (3) the third out is recorded to end the half-inning or game; or (4) the pitcher is removed from the mound before the hitter completes his/her at-bat. The pitcher may pitch in a second game if he is moved, removed, or the game is completed before delivering a pitch to another hitter. If a player throws 31 pitches or more in the first game and is not protected by the threshold exception, the player is not permitted to pitch in the second game that day);

Little League Rules Pitching Approved Ruling: If a Junior or Senior League pitcher pitches in more than one game in a day and has not pitched 31 or more pitches in the first game, except as noted under the threshold, the total amount of pitches that pitcher may pitch in both games combined is 95.

Little League Rules Pitching Notes:

  1. The withdrawal of an ineligible pitcher after that pitcher has been declared or after a warm-up pitch has been given, but before that player has pitched a ball to a batter, is not a violation. Little League officials are being asked to take safeguards in order to avoid protests. When a protest is anticipated, the potential offender should be told right away.
    Minor League and Little League (Majors): Approved Ruling: If a pitcher is proven to be ineligible while warming up, he or she must be removed, and the prior pitcher of record may not return.
  2. Pitches delivered in "Regulation Tie Games" or "Suspended Games" will be counted against the pitcher's eligibility.
  3. Pitchers of record at the time the game was interrupted may continue to pitch to the extent of their eligibility for that day in suspended games resumed on another day, providing said pitcher has observed the required days of rest.

Example 1: On Monday, a league age 12 pitcher throws 70 pitches in a game that is suspended. The game will resume the following Thursday. Because he/she did not observe the required days of rest, the pitcher is ineligible to pitch in the game's resumption.

Example 2: On Monday, a league age 12 pitcher throws 70 pitches in a game that is suspended. The game will be resumed on Saturday. Because he/she has observed the required days of rest, the pitcher is eligible to toss up to 85 more pitches when the game resumes.

Example 3: On Monday, a league age 12 pitcher throws 70 pitches in a game that is suspended. The game will resume in two weeks. If the pitcher is eligible based on his/her pitching record over the previous four days, he/she may pitch up to 85 more pitches when the game resumes.

Science of Little League Rules Pitching - Pitch Counts

Little League Rules PitchingIn baseball, the Major League schedule is lengthier and more intensive than that of the minor and amateur levels. This increased intensity has an impact on major league pitchers, who have a substantially higher cumulative effort during the season. Young pitchers' ligament, tendon, muscle, and bone tissues take time to adapt to the demands of major league pitching. Most clubs limit the number of innings a rookie pitcher can throw to reduce the danger of overuse problems and to enable tissue adaptability. The purpose of this study is to look into the relationship between innings pitched and future injury among young professional baseball pitchers.

Pith Count Study Methods

All pitchers under the age of 25 who pitched at least one-third of an inning in Major League Baseball between 2002 and 2007 were included in the study. Total innings pitched for each season were recorded across three levels of professional baseball: Major League Baseball and two levels of Minor League Baseball. Regression studies were performed to examine innings pitched in a single season, the difference between subsequent seasons, and future injury as defined by time spent on the injured list.

Pitch Count Study Results

The study discovered no statistically significant relationship between innings pitched and future injury, as well as no statistically significant changes when pitchers were divided into groups based on the difference in innings pitched between subsequent seasons. These data suggest that inning numbers alone are insufficient for adequately measuring the tissue demands of professional baseball pitching. As a result, limiting innings is insufficient to safeguard young professional pitchers from damage.

Ineffectiveness of Pitched Innings as a Workload Measure

The information presented in this study indicates that the number of innings pitched in a given season, as well as the year-to-year fluctuation in innings pitched, are not significant predictors of future injury. As a result, placing restrictions on innings pitched throughout a season or increasing innings year after year is unlikely to effectively lower the risk of injury. One probable explanation for this inefficiency is that innings pitched is not a good proxy for cumulative workload.

Workload and Injury: An Overview

Little League Rules PitchingWork for a pitcher can be defined broadly as the force or torque exerted during delivery. Work must be calculated using a biomechanical assessment that considers kinematics (joint angles and displacements) and kinetics (joint reaction torques and forces). While this precise examination has not yet been performed, earlier research on collegiate-level pitchers has revealed significant diversity in joint kinematics and reaction kinetics while pitching. This heterogeneity exists not only across pitch types, but also between individual pitchers.

When the burden exceeds the capacity of the body tissues, injury occurs. There are two possibilities for the absence of statistical significance in forecasting injuries based on innings pitched. First, each pitcher's tissue capacity may vary to such an extent that damage prognosis remains difficult even with a known workload. Second, the total labor done by two different pitchers throwing the same number of innings can change dramatically, making the true workload uncertain. The distribution of pitch types within an inning, as well as individual pitcher mechanics, all contribute to the inaccuracy of simply tallying the total number of innings pitched as a metric of cumulative effort.

In terms of total pitches thrown

Total pitches thrown, on the other hand, may be a stronger predictor of damage because it eliminates one level of unpredictability. Previous research has found that the number of pitches thrown in previous games is a statistically significant predictor of future performance, albeit injury risk was not specifically investigated. It is crucial to note that these studies did not focus solely on young pitchers, highlighting the need for additional research within this cohort.

Limitations and Future Prospects

Pitch CountsThis investigation, like any scientific study, has limitations. The lack of innings pitched data from the 2004 Southern and Texas Leagues was a minor limitation that is unlikely to have a substantial impact on the presented findings. Pitchers having a year-to-year reduction of more than 30 innings pitched were also removed from the analysis of ideal year-to-year innings pitched differences. This exclusion criterion was designed to account for injuries that were not reflected in the disabled list data or performance drop-offs that were not taken into consideration in the study.

There is also worry about potential changes in tissue loading between the Minor and Major Leagues due to different levels of activity. However, because young Minor League pitchers want to make Major League clubs, they put forth a lot of effort. As a result, the chances of major changes in tissue loading between the two leagues are modest.

Future research may look into whether the overall amount of pitches thrown in a season is a better predictor of future injury. While this inquiry has promise, the necessary predictive link is unlikely to be established. Individual biomechanical tests to analyze and limit each player's workload are more likely to be required for preventing injuries in professional baseball pitchers. Furthermore, strength and conditioning regimens designed to increase tissue capacity may be the most effective means of injury prevention.

Injury Prevention That Goes Beyond the Little League Rules Pitching

Pitch CountsAre you a young baseball pitcher eager to enhance your skills while safeguarding yourself against the risk of injury? Look no further! The 3X Velocity Camp is your ticket to unlocking the secrets of injury prevention in baseball, going beyond traditional pitch counts.

At the 3X Velocity Camp, we understand that protecting yourself from injury requires more than just limiting the number of innings pitched. Our expert coaches and sports medicine specialists have developed a comprehensive program designed to equip you with the knowledge and techniques necessary to excel on the field while keeping injuries at bay.

During the camp, you will delve into cutting-edge biomechanical assessments tailored to your individual pitching style. By understanding the intricacies of your body mechanics, joint angles, and forces, you'll gain valuable insights into your unique workload demands. This knowledge will empower you to make informed decisions about your pitching routine and avoid overexertion.

Our camp instructors, with years of experience in professional baseball, will guide you through targeted strength and conditioning exercises aimed at building tissue capacity. By improving your overall strength, flexibility, and stability, you'll fortify your body against the stresses of pitching, reducing the likelihood of injury and optimizing your performance.

Join us at the 3X Velocity Camp and take a proactive approach to your baseball career. Don't rely solely on pitch counts—gain a deeper understanding of your body, learn effective injury prevention strategies, and unlock your true potential on the mound.

Secure your spot in the 3X Velocity Camp today and embark on a journey to become a resilient and dominant pitcher. Your future success and longevity in the game depend on it. Don't let injuries hold you back—equip yourself with the knowledge and tools to thrive in the world of baseball.

Sign up now and take the first step towards a safer and more successful baseball career. We look forward to seeing you at the 3X Velocity Camp!