A Few Tips for Developing Future Baseball Pitchers

​Youth baseball coaches focused on developing future pitchers must balance the players’ health and stamina with skills development. Little League Baseball maintains pitch count rules for youth players. For example, players ages 6 to 8 should not throw more than 50 pitches per day, including practice, but by age 13 a player’s daily pitch count will have risen to 95.

Coaches can start working with pitchers on new pitches around the age of 9 or 10, at which point the Little League pitch count is 75. Again, practice pitches and game pitches both count, so coaches may need to hold a talented pitcher out of games so that they can perfect a new pitch.

A few of the first pitches a youth athlete should learn include the four-seam fastball, two-seam fastball, and the changeup. Aspiring pitchers may be eager to develop flashier pitches, such as the curveball or slider, but younger players typically lack the arm strength needed for these and other more advanced pitches. The National Institute of Health recommends that players hold off on throwing curveballs until they “reach maturity,” or about 13 to 14 years of age.

Similarly, it is recommended that coaches start with simpler pitches, building a player’s skills and control to the point that they can safely execute a curveball or slider. As youth pitchers continue to develop, they can attempt complex pitches, including the knuckleball and splitter.

Derek Copeland

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