High School Pitching Velocity

For 15 year olds i would say 73-78mph.IMO.

The average 15YO at an average HS is probably around 74-76 mph.

Add a couple of mph for a 16YO.

PHS, check your PM's.

Thats what I was hoping to hear. 73-78. Thats about what I thought just wanted to get some other honest opinions on it.. Here is our situation and tell me what ya'll think. Mine just turned 15 a month ago. He is 5'8" and 150 pounds. Throws right. He just got back to playing full time in May after elbow surgery in Feb '06 (broke inside elbow growth plate). He started pitching again in Mid June. He was clocked at 73-75 over the weekend.

I almost have the same exact height and weight and throw upper 70s now. I would suggest keeping the arm rested and using a strict throwing program to increase velocity. I think not overusing could be a key after coming back from injury. I often feel that my heavy loads of pitching when I was 12, 13, and 14 are hurting me now. Work on the abbs and legs.

If he has just now started pitching again, I wouldn't worry about velocity for a while.

Go easy, follow the rehab, hone the mechanics.

Thanks Dtiger. I was hoping you would see the subject and have an opinion on it. He also pitched tons as a 13 and 14 year old. He seems to be fully recovered physically but mentally I think he is still holding back. I think he is worried he will blow it out again.

I went through shoulder trouble but it didn't require surgery. I started throwing for 3 months before I ever pitched. I still ran out of gas the last few starts of this summer season... my results weren't always bad, but a pitcher can tell when that normal snap isn't on his curve, extra pop on the FB, etc..

I agree with Dtiger

mine wasnt the exact same. Strain in my elblow, but rest it and then get on a throwing program

you will feel very tired early and your fb wont be at the peak veolicty, but give it time and it should go right back to where it was, if not faster

hope that helps

That does help JB. Thanks for the input..

PHS, be very patient with the recovery. My son suffered the same injury a month before his 15th Bday and it took several months of complete rest before he could start a full rehab. My suggestion is find a good instructor that will start with strength conditioning for 4-6 weeks leading to flat work and eventually mound work. My son's velocity prior to the injury was 78 and he's now 16 1/2 and his velocity is 86-90. A good instructor will tune the mechanics to take strain off the elbow and rotator. Don't rush it, there's plenty of time to increase velocity.

quote:

Originally posted by Taz:
PHS, be very patient with the recovery. My son suffered the same injury a month before his 15th Bday and it took several months of complete rest before he could start a full rehab. My suggestion is find a good instructor that will start with strength conditioning for 4-6 weeks leading to flat work and eventually mound work. My son's velocity prior to the injury was 78 and he's now 16 1/2 and his velocity is 86-90. A good instructor will tune the mechanics to take strain off the elbow and rotator. Don't rush it, there's plenty of time to increase velocity.

He's a stud!! Congratulations on a great win yesterday. He pitched well after a shaky first inning! Showed me a lot on how he can stay focused! He's got a big future for sure!

OP, thanks for the kind words. He learned much from the weekend and made many new friends.

One more thing PoteetHSfan - let the kid rest over the fall.

The number one problem with young (12-16 year old) pitchers is that they start pitching in January (getting ready for their spring or HS season) and don't stop until November (if they stop at all). 11-12 months of pitching is too much.

The best way to prevent an injury is to not pitch too much and the best way to recover from an injury is to not pitch too much.

A "rested" arm is an invaluable asset to a young pitcher.

Crawdad My son is 14 and just finised the season 3 weeks ago.He is going to play fall ball but I am not going to let him pitch. He is going to start working with an instructor around the first of November for the spring high school season. Does that sound about right. Thanks TB

That has always been what my son did - play a limited (if at all) Fall ball schedule but do not pitch.

This "time off" deal always creates alot of controversy but I have to believe that most of the parents who advocate year around pitching have never pitched. I can promise you that resting a pitchers arm cannot be overemphasised.

My son is going to pitch in a limited number of showcase tournments this fall because he is entering his senior year and he is in the middle of the recruitment process. He did not, however, play fall ball the previous two seasons and seemed to compete just fine.

The number of shoulder and "Tommy John" surguries being performed on an increasing number of kids should be a warning to us parents but I really don't think it is.

I think it is great to use the fall to develop the other parts of his game - hitting and his defensive position. He should, however, participate in a good off-season program that includeds weight training and conditioning. A good long toss program should also be utilized (and no, long toss does not stress the arm like "pitching" in a game).

When running emphasize sprints - lots of them. This helps with explosiveness. Swimming is also a good way to develop the shoulder muscles (in fact it may be the best).

In other words use the off season to develop the kid's body in ways that he really can't do if he is in the middle of a season pitching.

The goal is to make the kid into a 6'2" 215 lb RHP. On paper it looks really easy.

Mechanics....The number 1 reason for arm problems....make sure you are working on a smooth, effortless,and fluid mechanics. Proper rest is essential, but good mechanics are far more important....use the off season to work on mechanics.

quote:

Originally posted by crawdad:
Swimming is also a good way to develop the shoulder muscles (in fact it may be the best).

Crawdad: I had a shoulder injury last fall and it prevented me from throwing for most of the fall season. I went to Marty Stadjuhar (spelling may be off), who worked for the Texas Rangers, and is considered by doctors (that I talked to) to be the best in the area. He told me that swimmers actually have horrible shoulders. Evidently the "free-style" swim loosens the shoulder ligaments. My injury was caused by having loose ligaments. I am not disagreeing with you, just telling you what I was told by the doctor. He also said the butterfly could hurt the shoulder.

The surgical tubing exercises will go a long way toward keeping the rotator cuff balanced - one of the keys to shoulder health for baseball players.