High school season is right around the corner - as is some cool, if not cold, weather. Understanding that a white sleeve or some multi-colored sleeve might be deemed illegal, was wondering if any folks had any experience with pitching with a light sleeve during cold weather and get feedback on the pros and cons. Might a sleeve aid in warming up the arm as well as keeping it truly warmer (assuming the kid wears a jacket regardless) between innings?
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No scientific basis other than son has pitched with one from time to time and no adverse impact. Cold weather he might go all sleeves and even in the hottest weather he is going to pitch in at least a 3/4 sleeve. Really likes the New Balance 3/4 compression made especially for pitchers. Has compression on the throwing shoulder as well.
If warmth is the issue, I would recommend a UA ColdGear shirt. Either loose fit or compression, whichever he thinks is more comfortable. My son always wears a sleeve on his throwing arm. Mostly in the field, but he also pitched. He likes the support and the warmth. (Probably doesn't do a thing, but he thinks it does.) UA makes a ColdGear sleeve, but that gets pretty hot in warm weather. Stick with solid black to avoid any problems with rules.
Sons uses UA cold gear during game and Evoshield sleeve after he pitches. The evoshield sleeve is to help a tired arm and he says it really works.
Agreed. I think the science is pretty solid that compression helps with muscle fatigue. Look at all the basketball players playing in compression tights these days.
Keep in mind that at the high school level you can not pitch with a sleeve if you do not have a sleeve on the other arm. Sleeves must be the same length on both arms.
From NFHS Rulebook:
ART. 2 . . . For individual players, uniform sleeve lengths may vary. However, sleeves of each individual player shall
be approximately the same length and shall not be ragged, frayed or slit. If the pitcher's undershirt sleeves are
exposed, they shall not be white or gray. A pitcher shall not wear any item on his hands, wrists or arms which may be
distracting to the batter. A pitcher shall not wear white or gray exposed undershirt sleeves or any white or gray sleeve
that extends below the elbow. A vest and coordinating shirt that is worn underneath is viewed as a type of uniform
top.
I've seen boys get away with wearing a single arm sleeve as long as the white logo was turned inside out and couldn't be seen by batter. Never heard about sleeve lengths though a compression sleeve is a different piece of equipment and pretty much ignored by umps now.
Usually an umpire won't care about only having a sleeve on one arm unless someone on the other team says something. I've had a college umpire tell me to take an evoshield sleeve off but this year I'm going to wear one on both arms to follow the rules. For me it definitely helps keep my arm warm when I don't wear long sleeves.
Tommy Bergjans, a D3 pitcher who was drafted this past year, wore two phiten compression sleeves.
My son wore long sleeve, black compression sleeves whenever he pitched last year. I thought maybe he didn't need it in July in Iowa when it was 92, but he liked it.
I do know a young man that wears one more as an OCD thing (I'm not joking) and some coaches will bust shoes with umps when he's on the mound to get in his head. It generally works.
lionhurler posted:Usually an umpire won't care about only having a sleeve on one arm unless someone on the other team says something. I've had a college umpire tell me to take an evoshield sleeve off but this year I'm going to wear one on both arms to follow the rules. For me it definitely helps keep my arm warm when I don't wear long sleeves.
Tommy Bergjans, a D3 pitcher who was drafted this past year, wore two phiten compression sleeves.
Not to derail this thread, but Bergjans is a great story. Pitched a grand total of 3 and 1/3 innings on varsity as a high school junior. Continued to develop, got up to mid-80s velocity his senior year, and had a great senior year in HS. Went to Haverford, continued to develop (velo got to low 90s), set records there, and got drafted in the 8th round by his hometown team: www.mlive.com/loons/index.ssf/...ospects_tommy_b.html
Great quote from him: "I have a lot of friends who didn't want to play Division III baseball and walked on at Division I teams. They didn't get to play and ended up quitting. I got a chance to play and improve. I got that opportunity because I went to a Division III program."
And he's off to a good start in MiLB.
