my son is 16, sophomore in hs. has never cracked 80 mph. he got clocked at 79 once earlier this year while training for this season. he plays class 6 high school in MO. he just pitched 3 scoreless innings in a JV game by keeping the ball low in the zone, changing speeds, keeping his slider outside and just keeping the hitters off balance.
I wish I could teach myself to do that effectively. I've been trying to teach myself to pitch since for over 10 years and I don't think I hit 70 mph yet let alone get movement lmao. Guess baseball was never gonna be for me I guess. Glad to hear that your kids doing amazing he's going to be great
Velocity is great, but it ain’t everything. Some kids have great IQ’s, hold runners well, have late movement and change speeds. Hitting is timing and pitching is disrupting timing…it’s just that the harder you throw, the easier it is to disrupt timing. The biggest intangible for me is heart rate. Some kids just know how to “lock in” and compete. I remember how a lot of the more talented kids struggled in competitive spots because they were set on domination. Striking everyone out and throwing no-hitters just isn’t realistic. I remember catching kids early and you could see who had the “big game” gene.
My son 12U throws 60-62mph on his 4 seam and does it consistently, it’s basically average. His ability to locate and his change up is what makes him a good pitcher. I did see a few weeks back at a PG tryout in Southern California, a 12U Hispanic kid throwing 75mph every pitch. Outlier was an understatement.
My son is 14, November bday. Hit 71 at 13 last summer in a PG tournament, and last week hit 77 at his pitching lesson. He's 5'10 146lbs currently. Idk how the elbow injury from last fall affected anything. He had growth plate inflammation and didn't throw for 3 months. This is a good informational video. We're working on strength right now since the arm care app put him in the high risk category for elbow injury.
I also have growth plate inflammation and I'm about to take 3-4 months off baseball to let it rest and build up strength in my shoulder and elbow, Hope that your son's arm is back to normal soon!
Great vid! My son turned 11 yesterday and is throwing 61, LHP, with good control but I’m not a baseball guy so I didn’t know if that was good. This was very helpful.
For just turning 11, that is fast. The heat doesn't mean anything without control and dynamics. My son will be 11 in a week. He hit 58. He is 4'5" 74 lbs.
Complete analysis thanks Dan. When I was 14 I pitched in little league at Odessa Texas got to the playoffs but didn't assist. I regret that all my life becuase I love pitching. Thanks Dan
According to this my son is an outlier..he is 13yo (11/3/09) 6'-1 245 and pitches in the mid seventys...the problem I've noticed is the amount of pitches his coaches want him to throw..if you count team warm-ups,bullpen warmup, warmup pitches between innings and true innings pitch its an incredible amount of throwing...and has always been a talking point I have with all the travel coaches he's had...so it's great to watch your son kick ass but for their safety watch out for him.. outliers can easily be over used
What a great video. Couldn’t agree more with what coach said. We all get a little hung up on velocity because, let’s face it, it’s a cool stat. My son just hit 17 last week, a junior and tops out about 83. At almost 6’ 2” he’s 30lbs under weight so he has a lot of physical potential still to develop. But that’s a lot of what ifs…..the fact that he has started the season with 30k’s to 6walks is what shows his development to me. Location over velocity every-time. Greg Maddox anyone?
My son started last summer as an 11 year old 48-50mph at his summer tryouts. After a dedicated year of j bands, med ball, instruction, and playing baseball, he's throwing low to mid 60's just a year later. Although I think improving his technique is what allowed him to gain so quickly. I don't expect those velocity gains to continue at that rate though.
I’m 11 and when I started pitching I was 9 and my dad built me a pitchers mound and bought me a radar gun and I was throwing mid 50’s when I was 9 and in 10u I topped out at 60 but I kept training and I just turned 11 and I topped out at 64
I'm 15. Fit, and love baseball. I never started pitching until this year d4 in New Hampshire. I throw mid 60s and that's rather high in my division lol. Im not really a pitcher or built like one but i have good movement on curveball and changeup but can't find the zone consistently. There are no resources in NH to get good at baseball and to learn mechanics and the game. If I get training I feel like I can get somewhere especially with my bat. I have the work ethic. I always wanted to get somewhere in baseball.
I'm 14, I throw low to mid 60s, but have really good sequencing and off speed pitches, so for me, throwing my fastball rlly hard isn't that important. Thanks for the vid tho.
My friend, it's normal to think you throw harder than the radar gun says. As a matter of fact, as a teenager I am quite sure I was always disappointed with the radar readings because I worked SO hard and my expectations were always high for myself. However, if you take your craft as seriously as it sounds you do, rather than be defensive sounding and dismissive of the data, take the information and set yourself goals. Without velocity, sequencing and everything else means nothing as you get higher up. Everyone has to quit playing one day, some sooner than others. And you will realize when your time has come to hang up the spikes. But you HAVE to change your mentality. Or you will be hanging up your spikes far sooner than you think.. If you work for it, stay dedicated, live and breathe it, and most importantly in this case, keep an open mind, there is a slight chance baseball won't one day break your heart. I apologize if this is too harsh or blunt in advance. But it's the truth.
Good video and intriguing topic. I read a paper recently about delayed puberty and eventual height. It said kids who have delayed puberty, they end up being on an average 2.8 cm taller than their statistical piers at full growth. That being considered, if you are an average velocity pitcher and also a lower growth spurt kid, you will end up taller than your team mates and eventually end up throwing faster than them in high school. So you don’t want to push it too much in terms of velocity: the goal is to throw strikes and avoid walks.
I'm enjoying all your videos. I wish the internet was around back when I played in the '70s. I have not noticed commentary that a 'fastball' is not really throwing as hard as possible. It is far better to sacrifice speed to get good location, about 90% full throttle seems about right. Or that missing the plate by a couple inches on a fastball is okay, because that practice pitch gets the next fastball more precise. And a high fastball is advantageous when facing a hitter who can discern pitch plateaus (fastball vs curve).
Coach Dan, could you please consider making a video discussing the do's and don'ts of youth pitchers transitioning from the "little field" (at 50/70) to the "big field" (regulation). I have a rising 12U pitcher in the house and I'm really concerned about how best to approach him throwing from 50' to 60'-6" when he turns 13. It's a huge jump. Your thoughts on what you have seen and what you recommend would be greatly appreciated! (This video about velocity made me think to ask this.) Thanks!
I'll put it on my list of potential ideas. I'm creating a content-planning community group through my soon-to-launch Patreon, might be something you'd be interested in. Be sure to sign up for my emails to get info when it launches
My son just turned 14, and he throws high 70s. This week at his training, he threw 78. He is 5'5 115 lbs. He hasn't hit much puberty yet. We are excited to watch him develop. All your examples, he was hitting the top 2% outliers.
The whole thought that pitching isn't linear is so important, and true. I was always pretty fast, and was ahead of the curb, but then I was average for that 14-15 age range. I came in my junior year at age 16 and shot 92 on the gun. I was usually around 87-90 on my fastball. I barely gained any velocity after that squeezing out and extra one or two over the next year. You really do just hit a growth spurt sometimes.
My son started late in baseball - league age nine, and that was in 2020 when covid hit which stunted every kids growth. He's always been blessed with the ability to pound the zone. He's never had overwhelming velocity, but he throws strikes. At 11 1/2, he's an average size kid, now 5'1" 105 lbs but touches 60 with his 4 seam...again with good control. He loves pitching and is working on his slider and change. His two seamer is his best pich with lots of arm side break. He loves to throw...hard...and far. He can throw farther than I can at this point. Myself and others have tried to teach him that control is really king.
I'm 56. When I was playing little league, I couldn't catch to save my life but I could consistently gun down any kid trying to take an extra base on me. I took a few test pitches with my teammates and many of them begged the coach to let me pitch. Never was given the chance. Though I've put all that behind me long ago, there is still a part of me that asks "What if?" Even in my 20's, playing softball I could throw that thing further and more accurately than guys much bigger and better built than me. Now, I'd either blow out a knee, an achilles or a shoulder if I tried to throw a grape lol.
I was against having my 12U son getting clocked. During his last season in 2024, LL Allstars run recently, someone brought a pretty reliable radar device to the field when he was starting. He hit 70 a couple times but stayed in the high sixties, which was a pleasant surprise. Now that said he still doesn't have good second and third pitches, so I've had him doing pitching one on one sessions as there are good hitters who can square up a hard fastball at age 12......
I really enjoyed this video. My boy is a seventh grader playing 13u. My guess is he is 68-70. He definitely is in the above average. We can see that from just watching against the competition. But he’s got to learn how to pitch. He certainly doesn’t throw hard enough to never get touched. I’m going to check out some of your other videos. Ty. I have a few baseball and QB highlights on my RU-vid channel if anybody is interested to see how a 13u stacks up.
I'm 18, 5'8 140lbs. I throw somewhere between 70-72mph on average. Never was a pitcher though, shortstop by trade so my veloicty never developed like that. I'm kind of transitioning to a two way player now though since my club is in desperate need of pitchers. Threw 5 2/3 innings of 1 earned run ball yesterday against a 2nd place team. What makes me effective is the unorthodox movement I get on my pitches. I throw a hybrid 2-seam/sinker/cutter pitch depending on how I roll the ball out of my hand.
I have always believed velocity was not as important as most think. As long as you can command your pitches side to side and up and down. Throw your pitches for strikes you will be successful. I’m now in my 40s but when I was 14-18 I was right around 80-85 but I had a good change and a good curveball. I am a lefty so that helped as well. For me I was successful when I threw my 3 pitches for strikes on either side of plate and I could use my 2 seam fb up in the zone and down. Just master your fastball and change later develops a breaking ball. Good info but don’t concentrate how hard you are throwing.
I this guy is great. He coaches reality 101. My son just started training just before he turned 8 (4' 11" 101) Alot of the parents try to traik their kids starting at 10 and they were limited. But the main thing we focus on is accuracy delivery.
What mechanics did he improve mostly? My son is almost 9 and 4’6.5”, weighing a little over 60 pounds throwing a peak of 39. Since watching this video, I won’t worry about speed as much (thanks Dan), but if my son can gain some velo through his mechanics, I’m all for it.
I’m 12 but I just played an all star game against a kid who is also twelve, But is frickin’ six foot 1! I mean, this kid is taller than his dad! We clocked him and this guy can throw 75 on the mound easily! And we are on a 45 foot mound.
I throw 81 in game at 14 with decent accuracy 70% strikes with a slider, 2 seam, 4 seam, and changeup as a lefty. that i’ve gained 10 mph on velocity this year because I’ve been going to a pitching coach how rare is that I’m also 6ft 2in and 170lb
i hit 90 at 16. then got TJ... during the layoff of not throwing bc my rehab coach tried to clean them up i moved slower forgot my mechanics and couldn't crack 85 anymore. was so frustrating
Dang, I had some real potential. I was throwing 80-82 at 15, at roughly 5'7 125. This was 20 years ago lol but I'm happily back on the Baseball train with my son, who is playing 8u now.
Man I just showed my son this as he is on the small side for an 11 year old and when playing in the Australian Little Championship he got so down as kids could throw harder. I pitched a bit as a young fella and now I help my boy and other pitchers in his team. Do you do video lesson I can buy to learn some tips to help my coaching
Right now I’m 11 years old, and I am a very skinny kid, I’m 5’5 108 pounds. While I was pitching I average about 54-55, and I have topped 58 mph on the pocket radar during a game. But this March, I had a wrist fracture while riding my bike, and had to sit out 1-2 months. Ever since, I tried throwing and I have been getting consistent elbow pain. Every time I start I have to take Ibuprofen. Now, I have topped at 55 and average 52-54. (So I want to ask, will my development be the same? Or do you have any rehab tips? I know you said in the video you had a UCL tear, so I just want to ask if you have any tips?)
you need to ask your parents to take you to a doctor. if you have to take ibuprofen after pitching at age 11, there is a real problem that needs to be addressed.
I’m 15 and Geri g into the mid 60’s with not the greatest Technique and trying to figure out if you have anymore videos on how to improve my technique great video though now I have a benchmark
I commented on the ‘King of Juco’ channel about how I could only throw in the mid-80s in high school and I attribute it to being 5’10”. I got a lot of toxic comments about me making excuses. Thanks for clarifying a players’ development and being rational in your analysis.
Like you, I was obsessed for years at pitching and I absolutely loved striking out my buddies in games. I honestly just wasn’t good enough to make it in college but I still enjoy a pick up game. Gonna join a 40+ league next year.
I'm not sure height is really that important - maybe accounts for 1-2 mph in the long run along with limb length. BUT - There's a whole lot of idiots out there. The reality is, not everyone can throw 90+, even if they work really hard AND smart. Screw those toxic morons. People have a very skewed perception of how many people can pitch at 90+. It's still a tiny, tiny population. Thanks for watching - be proud of your career and the skills you had.
I’m 11 playing in 11u I throw from 58-62 on my fastball and just saying it should be about fun but I was playing in a 12u tournament and I pitched like my range says and did not give up a hit through 3 innings I had 6k’s and 1 walk my team got second and I was the most disappointed I have been in my baseball career but I did good hitting but my only thought was how I had a fly out to right field to end the game so even though it should be fun I and my team try to win and if we don’t we fell like we left something out on the table
I am about to turn 12 right now and my pitching journey has gone from pitching 49-50 at 10 and jumping to avg 56 and top 59 at 11 and in 4 months I will be 12 and expected to throw 59-63 avg and 65 tops
I'm 15 and a half and throw around 82 *Not on a mound* at '5"10, 160 pounds. I've never trained But I don't know if I want to continue baseball since I lost interest, I've been watching videos trying to get courage to play again.
My son is a young 7 years old and has been playing little league for 2+ years. This past weekend he was getting some work in on his 9u team and there was (unfortunately) a radar gun that had been left on. He threw a fastball at 50 mph without a mound. He came back raving but I'm glad that my first instinct of "it doesn't matter. Did you have fun today?" was the right tactic to take. We know he's super talented but we keep telling him "the most important thing until you are 12-13 is if you had fun."
Last year when I was 10 I was clocked at 45-50 now I'm 11 and throwing some of the fastest in my whole league at a whopping 60 miles per hours 90 pounds and 4,10
My son is 10. He started pitching 10u when he was 8, and 12u when he was 9. He throws about 53-55 mph on average. There is a 10 year old that throws harder. Much harder. This one kid throws about 60-62 consistently. The problem is, he has no control. The coach always says, “I’d much rather have the kid who is throwing 5-10 mph slower but at least is giving me 60% more strikes.”
This makes me sad looking back at my youth, at age 11 i was hitting low 60s. 12 i was cruising mid 60s could touch 70 and was taught a 2 seamer. I fell off a horse broke my off hand collarbone and 2 ribs missing the season. 18 months later another accident breaking my leg. Then separated my throwing shoulder in football. After that i couldnt throw anything more than a wrist flick and know where it was going.
Idk, Im 6'5 -6'6 170-175 lbs when i was younger i was an outlier but ive defiantly slowed down with velo at my age. My pitch velo now is 76-78 and im 14 in the class of 2027. would be this due to me being "skinny".
I’m 13 and I throw 73 mph and I was doing that consistently and usually I will hit 68 to 69 because my arm will sometimes hurt after a while and I’m a closer for my team.
Just attended a Perfect Game tourney. The championship game was a 16-15 game. All pitchers were 13u and throwing 75-80 mph. The issue was these kids could ALL hit 75-80 and when you combine that speed, batter strength and the pop of these new bats and a lot of balls went out.
My oldest was 5'5 90lbs with a heavy jacket on and he was throwing 68 - 70 at 12. He's a natural thrower and gains velo easily but is too prone to injury due to a light frame, so this year has been all about arm care, building up his body, eating plenty, throwing just enough to keep the arm oiled but really just focusing on developing his athletic base. Getting professional help with his physical development with a baseball specialist physio has been a boon. He's been watching your videos with me since he was 9 so I like to think that has also had a positive influence too. Hopefully his 13 year old season is reletively free of speed bumps, here's to hoping.
@@nofurtherwest3474 before I say a thing is that question directed at me or did you make a mistake posting your comment?
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@@nepzski it's not fun when you're the one paying for treatment every time he gets carried away and throws gas. Luckily he has since grown bigger in addition to putting on a good 15lbs of muscle so I'm hoping that makes the next season a safe one. Noob gains are a blessing. Here's to hoping anyway.
can any fit office worker of average height become a 90mph thrower after 3-5years of practice or is the 90mph pitch a thing that needs above average genes and a whole childhood dedicated to it?
whole childhood of work. The bones in your shoulder literally have to rotate backward in the socket - it's a change that can only be made in childhood over years of throwing. its' called humeral retroversion and without it you'll likely never throw harder than 75, at best.
My son is 6 months old and is throwing his pacifier in the middle 80s with nasty 2 seam action and PG has him rated as the best 6 month old in the country……
My 11-year old kid is 5'8" 130 lbs, and still has a baby face. He has the bones of a 17-year old and the muscles and tendons of a 9-year old. He's pitching at around 50 mph, maybe maximum of 54 mph, and his accuracy is around 80% throwing at the center of the zone at 46 feet. I try to keep him focused on mechanics, repeatability, and accuracy Just putting this up here as a case study.
Hey dude!! I love the videos. Hope I’m not bugging you by asking this question but I have long levers, I’m 6’3 170 pounds, I threw high 60s freshman year at 15 and now I’m 16(turned in February) and I’m touching 80-81 in game sitting high high 70s. Do you think that mid 80s is in the cards for me in high school and 90* in college? Or is this the biggest jump I’ll see my entire life and only get marginally better? (For extra information- I grew an inch or two, put on 10-15 pounds since and fixed some major flaws in pitching mechanics. However I don’t feel like I’m very explosive, just feel like a slow object until the ball explodes out of my hand). Thank you for everything dude and please keep churning out videos because I love them!!
My son went on to play college baseball as a pitcher topping out at 93. Then played minor league ball for a few years. Now he thinks his son throws to slow at age 9. I keep telling him it’s just to early to be concerned with. He throws strikes which is more important. I coached him all through little league. I said you didn’t throw any harder at age 9. I agree with everything you said.
I’m I have a question I throw 63 but I’m 11 but I’ve always been coached by major leaguers and I. In 7 th grade also pushing me to be better around my friends is there something else I should do or like will it hurt my arm to thro that fast
Thank you for providing some perspective (social media does warp things). May I ask your perspective on SS/Pitchers at age 12 and beyond? If a kid is an above average SS and an average pitcher, it seems that the team not only benefits from keeping him at SS, but the kid is only putting his arm at risk pitching (he doesn't take pitching lessons, etc). Basically, I'm wondering at what age a position player who can throw alright should stop pitching, especially if he's unlikely (interest wise and genetically) to be a pitcher as he gets older. Thanks!
I dont really understand your question, but in general, most pitchers don't injure their arms. If he doesnt want to pitch he shouldn't, but pitching part time should not be viewed as "putting his arm at risk" - that's a bit extreme, especially at 12. Sports have inherent risk. Most kids grow up pitching at least part time and the vast majority dont suffer major arm injuries.
I’m 15. I only AVG 55. I broke my elbow last year. But I gained 2mph in like a Month and hit 57. Still not great. So I’m probably not gonna make my HS team 😢
