IF/OF Velocity

Do not worry about the so called "Standards"---be yourself and play your game---if you got "stuff" someone will see it and like it

MLB average
OUT 89-90 mph
infielders 85-86mph
catchers 84 mph

Frank....Likely only a handful of major leaguers throw 89-90 from the outfield.

I would guess that not a single leftfielder throws that hard; a few centerfielders; and, out of the 32 teams, likely only 10 or so rightfielders do so...Vlad Guerrero comes to mind.

I don't believe that statistic for outfielders at all.

OK so what is a more realistic arm strength for say a high school senior playing right field?

Yeah there is alot of MLB players that cant throw a lick. But I had players in tryout camps throw 95 mph from outfield and had many camps where many players threw 90 mph from the outfield.

82-83 mph would be about avg for HS from the outfield

What is average for infielders?

79-8o for infielders in hs

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82-83 mph would be about avg for HS from the outfield

Not at all!

Average HS starting varsity pitcher tops out about 79 mph even after a good warmup and from a mound. Most outfielders aren't that fast unless you're adding in a running start.

BTW, just gunned a star right fielder who pitched a few innings. He's 6'3" 200 lbs. Top out on the mound: 81 mph. He's going D-1 next year.

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What is average for infielders?

My EDUCATED guess.
1B: 76 mph. (only because many 1Bs also pitch)
2B: 70mph. (plenty are less I would think)
SS: 78 mph.
3B: 80 mph.

This is assuming these players went to the mound to pitch.

Our varsity rf this coming season throws 87+ off the mound. Cf throws mid 80s. Lf probably low 70s. 3b mid to high 80s, SS mid 70s, 2b not too hard, 1b, no idea, catcher about 65. Couple backup outfielders in high 70s can hit 80 another 81-82. Couple kids who will probably end up on JV, one throwing 80-81, but can hit about 83 and the other throws 81-82, but is a max effort type. Don't know what position the other high 80s pitcher plays. They'll probably finish 4th or 5th in the league.

Even so I figure micds' numbers are a pretty good guess.

CADad, you're in a very good league. My high school's outfield was something like LF-75 CF-low 80's RF-low 80's, but the back ups dropped off tremendously. These numbers are slightly skewed too because all 3 of those outfielders also pitch.

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but the back ups dropped off tremendously

When "average" comes up here, it's easy to forget the many small schools that play lower quality ball and frankly don't care much about the sport. Also easy to forget bench players.
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Interesting question is how fast those players actually throw while making plays. Has anyone sat by first with a gun?

If a 3B could hit 80 as a pitcher, how fast does he actually throw to first from third when making the typical hurried play? I have no idea.

Whats the difference what a guy throws if he can't hit the side of a stadium. A good strong accurate throw on a line, where a cut has a chance, will always serve an OFer well. Getting to the ball quickly and positioning himself for the throw are equally important. A 1Ber should also be able to get rid of the ball quickly after fielding it but a strong arm is not an important attribute of a 1Ber.
Now, if we are talking about draft projections, certain positions will need a strong, accurate arm. If a player can hit the stuff out of it, his arm may not matter as much.

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Whats the difference what a guy throws if he can't hit the side of a stadium?

Great point. Accuracy is so important. So is a quick release. I've seen infielders pump two or three times before throwing the ball. Drives me crazy!

I think that some of us, many of us, put too much stock in the "numbers"

Many of the great players did not have great tools but had the instincts and quickness to make things happen

For me the I like to see a kid play the game---does he make the play?--is his uniform dirty ?--- how are his instincts ?--- Not every Outfielder has a arm like Vlad---there are many shortstops with better tools than Jeter but he is still among the best because of how he plays the game


Lets not get hung up on all the "numbers"---let us go back to looking at the player

Throw from 3rd to first is nearly 120 feet or about twice as far as from the mound to home (which takes about 1/2 second).

So a fast 3rd base arm can get the ball to first in a bit over a second. Ten percent faster or slower makes about half a step difference at first, which can be a significant difference.

But a faster or slower release can make even a bigger difference in my opinion.

Lightening fast throwing velocity also increases the chance of a wild throw going past first.

For 2B and SS, throwing speed is even less important. Would you even want a HS 2B who always threw 90 mph? Few HS first basemen are selected for their cat-like reflexes.

If you go to the perfectgame web site they list velocity of infield and outfield throws on their player profiles..
When my son was in high school he played ss and his infield throws were in the mid 80s.A quick release can make up for a weaker arm