Youth Top Velocities per Age

My son as a 10yo threw 57-58 and topped out at 61 (Stalker). He was the second fastest arm in his league. The fastest kid threw consistantly 63-64 and was playing up as a 9yo. Fortunately, they both played on the same team and walked through the league last year.

I would say that most of the kids we played against in travel ball, Cooperstown, etc. were in the same range as my son. I never saw any kid throw like his 9yo teammate. That boy's All Star team made it to the Dixie WS last year (my son was on that team but opted out to go to Cooperstown).

BTW, the boy is a skinny little kid that you would never guess could throw that hard.

Wow! We just don't see much of that in Savannah. Our 12U teams have pretty good velocity, but 8 & 9 yr. olds throwing high 50's and low 60's......well, it 's like the throw doesn't fit the person it is coming from when you watch it. His father wanted him to play up in the 12U league, but I talked him out of it for two reasons:
First, you don't want an 8 yr. old getting drilled by a good 12 yr. old batter. Secondly and most importantly, I told him to let him be a hero now. Who's to say his ability will continue to grow at the same rate.

I'm very curious how these 8-10yo 60 mph arms turn out in HS. Do they start out 15 mph faster than most kids and lose the advantage later?

Or are these the rare HS kid who throws 95 when the other pitchers are struggling to reach 80?

i remember at 9 i was topping out at 58, now i top out at 95-96 and im a senior in high school...so i dont know if there is any correlation, i'm also 6'6 now so i wouldnt consider it the norm. then my youngest brother just turned 8 and he touches 50... but thats as much help as i can provide.

So you were very fast at 9, and now, in HS, you're very, very, very fast. I hate you.

Savannah

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Secondly and most importantly, I told him to let him be a hero now.

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I agree with your reasoning 100%.

micdsguy

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I'm very curious how these 8-10yo 60 mph arms turn out in HS. Do they start out 15 mph faster than most kids and lose the advantage later?

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My son has an advantage of an Aug. b-day and he is a pretty big kid, but I think that it will even out a lot as the kids mature. I am anxious to follow little Gene though. He is fun to watch and his dad is being very careful with his arm. Plus, he is a great kid.

Two kids I coached since they were 7. One is my youngest son the other his best friend. Both are freshman in HS now. When they were 10 Jeff was 55 and Pratt was 58. When they were 12 Jeff was 65 Pratt 67. Last year Jeff was 78 Pratt 80. Currently at 15 Jeff who is a catcher is 81 from the hill but must faster to second on his pops 2.1-2.05. Pratt is at 85 as a Freshman. One reason Pratt is harder from the hill is he has really worked hard on pitching and concentrated on it and Jeff has never really worked on pitching and has concentrated on catching and throwing as a catcher. I have seen alot of kids that could throw hard younger and never threw very hard in HS. Some ride the early sucess and do not work hard as they get older. I have also seen kids that were very average as 12 year olds and could bring it in HS. There are a ton of variables involved.

Well, obviously from the posts there are more 8-9 yr. old players throwing harder than I thought. I really thought this kid was an anomally. The speed looks freakish, like one of those Disney type movies. My son is several years ahead, but our community is pretty small. So, I will be able to follow him if he stays in the area.

Perhap's this has something to do with living in the Northeast but never realized they put guns on 8/9 year olds.

MT07LHP

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Perhap's this has something to do with living in the Northeast but never realized they put guns on 8/9 year olds.

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Maybe so. They are pretty pervasive down here. Many of the tournaments use them for the pitching contests (similar to HR derbys) and they have them set up in "carnival fashion" at our minor league's concession area.

I have also seen them used at many of the camps that my son has attended as well. We gun the kids "for fun" from time to time during the season. It is pretty harmless and not viewed as having any significant meaning or value.

Let's face it, they are just little kids. They aren't concerned about DI scholarships or pro scouts. Most of these little guys won't even be playing past rec ball. It is just fun for the kids, no big deal. It's purely harmless entertainment for them. JMO.

Just let them play...don't wish away their preteen years and push them to reach something they are not ready for yet.

Let them enjoy the game...teach them to love and respect the game.

The best favor you can do for them is make their practices with you fun...

They will meet the hard driving type A's soon enough.

Leave the gun at home...wait until they are at least juniors in HS.

Pic all good points. The only reason I knew what these young guys threw is because they have been around my HS practices since they were tiny kids. We gun all our guys now and then and of course they want to know what they are throwing as well. Keep it in perspective and its harmless.

Savannah;

"I told him to let him be a hero now."

Agree 100%, let him have fun now.

"Who's to say his ability will continue to grow at the same rate."

Another very true statement. Several years ago our league had a 10 yr. old in it that dominated every single game. GREAT speed and decent control. He played up often and did exceptional. Played AAU and pitched in the state finals and in the nationals - several times. Pitched a lot. Did very well. This is his senior year in HS. He is number 4 or 5 on the depth chart at pitcher. Very average to slightly below average speed with decent control. He was never really hurt that I know of but just leveled off on his development and the other kids passed him. Three of the HS kids pitching in front of him all signed D1.

The family and the boy should just enjoy the moment. Don't get too high or too relaxed. He may be a star or may not as there is a lot of work to be done and many games to be played. Only God knows and he won't let us know for a while.

Throwing 60 at 8YO. Is that 60 feet?

the best way to measure velocity is by asking the father how hard does your son throw, then subtract 5 to 7 mph.

Savannah,
The youngest input to the database was about 10yo so the curves wouldn't be valid for anyone younger. A kid cruising at 54 as a league age 9yo is doing pretty well. He'd project to be cruising mid to high 60s as a 12yo. The kid who won the US championship game against Texas in the LLWS last year was throwing 70-71 most of the time on their gun and dropping down to 69 when he needed a strike.

Should be interesting as my son will be playing against him this year during the regular season. I think I got a 14yo in the draft who might throw about as hard as him this year.

My just turned 16 year old son throws 88 mph for strikes. I have no idea what he threw at 12 years of age. I never saw the need to put a gun on him - at that age I was having enough of a challenge just working with him on his mechanics. My ONLY emphasis during his early years was accuracy. And I can tell you that at 10 years of age the kid could spot a fastball without any trouble.

He finished his spring little league season as a 10 year old with 99 K's and 9 Walks.

Yes, I do put a gun on him now when I work with him. But to this day he can still spot a fastball on either corner and I think that it is because at an early age it was drilled into him that accuracy was what separated the good pitchers from the great pitchers.

I just do not think that a radar gun has any place being aimed at a pre-teen kid. Just my OPINION, but I stand by it.

When my son was 10, he threw 84mph on the Juggs gun.



Yeah right.

Yep, I pretty dubious of dads (including some here) who claim their 17yo cruises at 95mph but they only checked it once with a gun.

Is there a dad here who wouldn't mortgage the farm to buy a gun if their kid could do that?

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That's as silly as saying his kid batted .570 but he only looked at junior's stats once last year.

All I can say is "WATER!" What's in the water??? PLEASE, send some water to me so I can have it analyzed.

If your son is throwing 95 at any age you wouldn't need to buy a gun as there would be plenty at the ballpark everytime he takes that mound.

AHSPitcher17 will bring a lot of scouts to his games.
He's a real deal!
Promise you'll remember us little people when you hit the big time! We're rooting for you, big guy!