at what age do think an american pitcher should enter major league..since non americans seem to get big deals?

Answer 1

Definitly not until age 21! They need to allow their ligaments,tendons and muscle tissue to complete the growing process, not to mention their bones. Any sport doctor will tell you this.This is why MLB sends kids to the minors first. As far as a kid from,say Cuba goes, I'll bet the ballclubs sign him and put him to work immediately so he can get a green card and they don't loose the kid to another franchise due to all the red tape.

Answer 2

I would say mid 20's. Pitchers need to build up arm strngth gradually either through college or minor league experience, and to adapt to the physical and mental rigors of the game before jumping in. there will always be exceptions like a Bob Feller, but there will always be the like of Dwight Gooden who fell to the temptations that sudden stardom afforded him. Also pitchers from the Latin American countries have more baseball, and play year round and have less other sports to distract them. Usually the best player on an american team is the pitcher and usually plays football and basketball among other sports also, which requires entirely different muscle groups and thus does not completlly help a young pitcher to excel with all the diversions in his mind and body.

Answer 3

Everyone seems to be missing the point. Pitchers should go to the majors as early as possible! It is a quesation of mental preparedness. Why would the major league ball clubs have pitchers getting their tendons and igaments ready in the minors? Pitching in the majors dowsn't magically put any more stress on a young pitcher's arm than throwing in the minors! It is a question of mental readiness and a question of skill. When a pitcher is good enough and ready, he will go pro. The earlier, the better for all major league clubs.

Answer 4

I would think that a good age to enter is that of 24. This allows the recruiters to have more time to possibly hire and/or trade the player to another team which in turn could be a good thing for the team and the player himself (Better pay, Favorite childhood team, ext:). Also this allows the player more time to get ready for the major leagues (Physical conditioning, and Menal conditioning).
Go D Rays!,
TigerWood'sFan

Answer 5

It's not about age. It's about being physically and emotionally mature enough to handle the show and about being ready in baseball terms.

The "non-americans" (I don't know why you have a problem with this concept, BTW) already have been performing under these same or even more intense situations and have generally proven their worth. A rookie has none of that.