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. 2022 Jul 14;10(7):23259671221110547.
doi: 10.1177/23259671221110547. eCollection 2022 Jul.

Effect of Pitching Restrictions and Mound Distance on Youth Baseball Pitch Counts

Hailey Mair  1 , Nicholas A Kenney  2 , Timothy L Uhl  1 , L Robert Ullery  1 , Robert G Hosey  1
Affiliations

Effect of Pitching Restrictions and Mound Distance on Youth Baseball Pitch Counts

Hailey Mair et al. Orthop J Sports Med. .

Abstract

Background: Studies have shown that higher pitch counts are directly related to a greater incidence of elbow and shoulder pain among youth baseball pitchers.

Purpose/hypothesis: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of different pitching restriction rules on the number of pitches thrown in youth baseball leagues. We hypothesized that more pitches would be thrown in leagues with inning restrictions versus leagues with pitch count restrictions as well as in leagues with a longer mound distance (from pitching mound to home plate).

Study design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2.

Methods: Pitch count data were collected for 2 consecutive years over a 10-week season from 3 different leagues of 9- to 12-year-old baseball players in a single city. The Eastern league had a pitch count restriction and 46-ft (14.02-m) mound distance. The Southeastern and South leagues' pitching restrictions were based on innings per week. The Southeastern league had a 50-ft (15.24-m) mound distance, while the South league had a 46-ft mound distance. Comparisons of total seasonal pitches thrown were made of the 3 highest-volume pitchers on each team. League averages for each value were then compared utilizing analysis of variance with Bonferroni post hoc analysis. The number of pitchers in each league who threw >600 pitches per season was compared using the chi-square test.

Results: No significant difference in seasonal pitch counts or innings pitched was noted between the Eastern and South leagues, which differed only in their pitching restrictions. The Southeastern league, with a longer mound distance, was found to have higher seasonal pitch counts per thrower (598 ± 195 pitches) than the South league (463 ± 198 pitches) for the 3 highest-volume throwers for each team (P = .004). The Southeastern league also had a significantly larger number of pitchers who threw >600 pitches per season (33 vs 20 for Eastern and 13 for South; P = .009).

Conclusion: There was no significant difference in seasonal pitch counts when the leagues in this study differed based on pitching restrictions. However, the league with a greater mound distance (Southeastern) had higher seasonal pitch counts for the highest-volume throwers. Pitching restrictions based on pitch counts, as opposed to innings, may be advisable.

Keywords: elbow and shoulder injury; overuse; pitch counts; risk factors; youth baseball.

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Conflict of interest statement

One or more of the authors has declared the following potential conflict of interest or source of funding: N.A.K. has received consulting fees from Pacira Pharmaceuticals, nonconsulting fees from Smith & Nephew, and hospitality payments from DePuy Synthes. AOSSM checks author disclosures against the Open Payments Database (OPD). AOSSM has not conducted an independent investigation on the OPD and disclaims any liability or responsibility relating thereto.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Comparison of seasonal pitch counts for the most utilized pitchers on each team: (A) highest-volume pitcher, (B) top 2 pitchers combined, and (C) top 3 pitchers combined. *Statistically significant difference between groups (P < .05).
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Comparison of seasonal innings pitched for the most utilized pitchers on each team: (A) highest-volume pitcher, (B) top 2 pitchers combined, and (C) top 3 pitchers combined. *Statistically significant difference between groups (P < .05).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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