Pitch counts are the simplest tool parents and coaches have to protect young arms. MLB and USA Baseball’s Pitch Smart program publishes daily limits and the rest a pitcher needs before pitching again, and Little League uses very similar rules. Here is how they work.
Daily maximums and rest days (Pitch Smart)
| Age | Daily max | 0 days rest | 1 day | 2 days | 3 days | 4 days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7–8 | 50 | 1–20 | 21–35 | 36–50 | — | — |
| 9–10 | 75 | 1–20 | 21–35 | 36–50 | 51–65 | 66–75 |
| 11–12 | 85 | 1–20 | 21–35 | 36–50 | 51–65 | 66–85 |
| 13–14 | 95 | 1–20 | 21–35 | 36–50 | 51–65 | 66–95 |
| 15–16 | 95 | 1–30 | 31–45 | 46–60 | 61–75 | 76–95 |
| 17–18 | 105 | 1–30 | 31–45 | 46–60 | 61–80 | 81–105 |
How to read it: find the number of pitches thrown that day; the column tells you the calendar days of rest needed before pitching again. Example: an 11-year-old who throws 52 pitches needs 3 days of rest.
Other Pitch Smart recommendations
- Take at least four months off from throwing each year, with at least two to three of them in a row.
- Ages 9–12: no more than 80 combined innings in any 12-month period. Ages 13–14: no more than 100.
- Don’t pitch on three consecutive days, regardless of pitch count.
- Don’t pitch in more than one game in the same day.
- Avoid playing catcher on days you aren’t pitching.
- Avoid playing on multiple teams at the same time, and play other sports during the year.
- Ages 9–12: focus on fastballs and changeups.
Why league rules aren’t the whole story
Each league tracks pitches only in its own games. A player on a school team, a travel team and a rec team can exceed safe limits without any single coach knowing. Pitch Smart puts the responsibility for tracking the whole year on the family. A simple notebook or a pitch-count app shared with every coach helps.
Signs of fatigue: take the pitcher out
- Drop in velocity or control
- Changes in arm angle or mechanics
- Rubbing the arm or shoulder, or complaints of pain
Pain is not normal. If a young pitcher has elbow or shoulder pain, stop throwing and see a doctor. See also 6 Ways to Relieve Elbow Pain From Baseball and What Causes It.
Sources: MLB / USA Baseball Pitch Smart guidelines; Little League regular season pitching rules. Always follow your own league’s rules.
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Photo: “LittleLeague-pitch” by luyen, licensed under CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
