Correlation of pitching velocity with anthropometric measurements for adult male baseball pitchers in tryout settings

Abstract

Several studies have investigated factors influencing baseball pitching velocity. However, some measurements require expensive equipment, and some tests need familiarity to perform well. In this study, we adopted field tests executed using affordable equipment in a tryout event for a professional baseball team in Taiwan, 2019. We use half day to test 64 players, and the result of measurement are used to develop a model for predicting pitching velocity of amateur adult pitchers (age: 23.9 ± 2.8 years; height: 180.3 ± 5.9 cm; weight: 81.4 ± 10.9 kg). The measurements and tests in tryout settings should be easy to implement, take short time, do not need high skill levels, and correlate to the pitching velocity. The outcome measures included maximum external shoulder rotation, maximum internal shoulder rotation, countermovement jump (CMJ) height, 20-kg loaded CMJ height, 30-m sprint time, height, age, and weight tests. Multiple regression indicated a moderate correlation between these tests and pitching velocity (adjusted R2 = 0.230, p = 0.0003). Among the measures, the ratio of loaded CMJ to CMJ, ratio of first 10-m sprint time to 30-m sprint time, and height were significant contributors to pitching velocity. Overall, these measures explained 23% of the variance in the predicted pitching velocity. These field tests can be adopted in tryout events to predict a prospect’s potential and to identify underestimated players. Coaches can obtain an expectation of a pitcher’s performance by comparing his pitching velocity with the predicted value derived from the statistical model presented herein, and the room of growth by comparing his current strength to average strength growth after being drafted and trained with professional coaches.

Investigation of pitching performance and physical changes associated with fatigue

“…Validation studies have previously shown that this system is useful for evaluating ball velocity, pitching motion, spin axis, and spin rate [15][16][17]. The Rapsodo Pitching unit was set up according to the manufacturer's instructions and was not moved or changed during the measurement of each participant.…”

Comparison of Pitching Kinematics between Normal-Weight and Overweight Group in High School Baseball Pitchers

“…In a study that analyzed the effects of body composition of elite players playing different positions on baseball performance, pitchers showed higher height, weight, and muscle mass than players in other positions, which were positively correlated with ball velocity (Carvajal et al, 2009). Additionally, in another study on the relationship between physical performance and pitching velocity of pitchers in a professional baseball team tryout, pitchers with higher muscle strength and power had a faster pitching velocity (Huang et al, 2022). Based on these findings, the physical characteristics of pitchers were significantly correlated with ball velocity, suggesting the importance of muscle strength and power improvement training of the trunk and extremities to increase ball velocity (Stodden et al, 2005;Wong et al, 2022;Yamada et al, 2013).…”