pitching?!?

Question

how hard should a 16 year old be throwing? i throw 80-83.. is that good bad?

Answer 1

Don't worry so much about your velocity. At 16 you haven't fully matured into the man you’re going to be. A few better things to concentrate on are:
1) Your mechanics
a) Make sure to follow through
b) Don't throw across your body
c) Focus on incorporating your lower body into the motion.
d) Train to have a consistent arm motion and release point.

2) Control (What good is a 90 mph fastball if you can't put it where you want it?)

3) Ball movement (MOST important thing scouts look for)

4) Take care of your arm.
a) Never throw hard without warming up. Eg. You see the speed gun at the fair, keep walking.
b) Always, Always, Always ice your arm and shoulder after throwing.

When I was 16 I had the first 3 points in abundance and was throwing in the high 80s to low 90s. I even started a few games in the Babe Ruth World Series.
BUT, I didn't take care of my arm and blew it out playing in college. You don't want that to happen. Plus icing down after practice relieves some of the swelling in your arm and shoulder allowing it to heal and strengthen faster.

Answer 2

80 - 83 is pretty darn good for a 16 yr. old. The key, though, to a dominating pitcher at your age is control of the 83 mph pitch and how you keep hitters off your fastball w/ a good change up. Think of it this way, if you go to the batting cages and hit off the machine at any given MPH's you'll eventually catch up to it. Disrupting a hitters timing is how you become a GREAT pitcher. As for throwing a fork-ball (or split-finger) this will catch up to you with arm problems in the future. As a minor league pitcher for 10 yrs. I saw many of arms (elbows) get blown out by throwing this pitch. Work on a good circle change if you want to still be throwing a baseball in 20 years.

Answer 3

That is way above average for someone your age. However it is not at the top of your age bracket. At pro try-outs most of the pitchers are in the 83-89 range. most of the pitchers in the minors throw in the 88-92 mph range. So you are not that far off, don't let anyone tell you differently..........To throw harder focus on Powerlifting with very heavy weights focusing on Squats, deadlifts and powercleans //// Do High reps (12-15+) very fast Incline presses.//// Do alot of flexiblility work with very light weight such as rotations (external/internal rotations) for your shoulder region. Eat alot of protein and 90 mph is not far off. And if you have the genetics 95+ is a possibility.

Answer 4

that's about average to just under average.

the only PRO'S who are throwing in the mid 80's to low 80's greg maddux and jamie moyer. meaning only the older men. you ain't making A MINOR LEAGUE ROSTER LET ALONE A PRO TEAM if you aren't throwing in the high 80's to low 90's.