PITCH COUNT LIMITS

This information was provided by MLB.com https://www.mlb.com/pitch-smart/pitching-guidelines

Each organization -- whether it be a league, travel team, showcase or tournament -- should establish rules to ensure that players must follow the guidelines while playing in that league. Ultimately, it is the responsibility of the parent and the athlete to ensure that the player follows the guidelines for his age group over the course of a year -- given that he will oftentimes play in multiple leagues with different affiliations covering different times of the year.

Ages 8 and Under

(Typically 46' Pitching Distance)

  • Focus on athleticism, physical fitness, and fun

  • Focus on learning baseball rules, general techniques, and teamwork

  • Do not exceed 60 combined innings pitched in any 12 month period

  • Take at least 4 months off from throwing every year, with at least 2-3 of those months being continuous

  • Make sure to properly warm up before pitching

  • Set and follow pitch-count limits and required rest periods

  • Avoid throwing pitches other than fastballs and change-ups

  • Avoid playing for multiple teams at the same time

  • Avoid playing catcher while not pitching

  • Players should not pitch in multiple games on the same day

  • Play other sports during the course of the year

  • Monitor for other signs of fatigue

  • Pitchers once removed from the mound may not return as pitchers

  • No pitcher shall appear in a game as a pitcher for three consecutive days, regardless of pitch counts

Ages 9-12

(Typically 46-50' Pitching Distance)

  • Focus on athleticism, physical fitness, and fun

  • Focus on learning baseball rules, general techniques, and teamwork

  • Do not exceed 80 combined innings pitched in any 12 month period

  • Take at least 4 months off from throwing every year, with at least 2-3 of those months being continuous

  • Make sure to properly warm up before pitching

  • Set and follow pitch-count limits and required rest periods

  • Avoid throwing pitches other than fastballs and change-ups

  • Avoid playing for multiple teams at the same time

  • Avoid playing catcher while not pitching

  • Players should not pitch in multiple games on the same day

  • Play other sports during the course of the year

  • Monitor for other signs of fatigue

  • Pitchers once removed from the mound may not return as pitchers

  • No pitcher shall appear in a game as a pitcher for three consecutive days, regardless of pitch counts

Ages 13-14

(Typically 60' Pitching Distance)

Players can begin using breaking pitches after developing consistent fastball and changeup

Do not exceed 100 combined innings pitched in any 12 month period

Take at least 4 months off from throwing every year, with at least 2-3 of those months being continuous

Make sure to properly warm up before pitching

Set and follow pitch-count limits and required rest periods

Avoid playing for multiple teams at the same time

Avoid playing catcher while not pitching

Players should not pitch in multiple games on the same day

Play other sports during the course of the year

Monitor for other signs of fatigue

A pitcher remaining in the game, but moving to a different position, can return as a pitcher anytime in the remainder of the game, but only once per game

No pitcher shall appear in a game as a pitcher for three consecutive days, regardless of pitch counts

Ages 15-18

(Typically 60' Pitching Distance)

  • Players can begin using breaking pitches after developing consistent fastball and changeup

  • Do not exceed 100 combined innings pitched in any 12 month period

  • Take at least 4 months off from competitive pitching every year, including at least 2-3 continuous months off from all overhead throwing

  • Make sure to properly warm up before pitching

  • Set and follow pitch-count limits and required rest periods

  • Avoid playing for multiple teams at the same time

  • Avoid playing catcher while not pitching

  • Players should not pitch in multiple games on the same day

  • Make sure to follow guidelines across leagues, tournaments and showcases

  • Monitor for other signs of fatigue

  • A pitcher remaining in the game, but moving to a different position, can return as a pitcher anytime in the remainder of the game, but only once per game

  • No pitcher shall appear in a game as a pitcher for three consecutive days, regardless of pitch counts

Ages 19-22

  • Keep track of the amount of pitching throughout the course of the year. Although the safe yearly limit varies from pitcher to pitcher, it is important to remember that overuse injuries are the result of short-term and long-term overuse

  • Take at least 3 months off from competitive pitching every year, including at least 4 continuous weeks off from all overhead throwing

  • Make sure to properly warm up before pitching

  • Set and follow pitch-count limits and required rest periods

  • Avoid playing for multiple teams at the same time

  • Avoid playing catcher while not pitching

  • Players should not pitch in multiple games on the same day

  • Make sure to follow guidelines across leagues, tournaments and showcases

  • Monitor for other signs of fatigue

  • No pitcher shall appear in a game as a pitcher for three consecutive days, regardless of pitch counts