Effects of Professional Fitness Factors on Throwing Velocity of High School Baseball Pitchers: A Pilot Study

Abstract

This study was conducted to provide basic data for pitcher training and physical strength training by analyzing the effect of high school baseball pitcher’s professional fitness factors on throwing velocity. The subjects of the study were high school baseball pitchers(n=10) and evaluated using the Baseball Athletic Test(BAT). BAT was a field test for baseball pitchers and analyzed body composition, flexibility, muscular strength, leg power, agility, running speed, and throwing velocity, and the following results were derived. First, body composition(height, weight, body fat percentage, muscle mass) did not show a significant correlation with throwing velocity. Second, grip strength showed a significant correlation with pitching speed improvement(R²=.683, p＜.05) Third, vertical jump showed a significant correlation with throwing velocity(R²=.754, p＜.05). Fourth, 60yd sprint was found to have a statistically significant correlation with throwing velocity((R²=-.766, p＜.01). To summarize the above, baseball pitchers showed significant correlations with vertical jump, grip strength, and 60yd sprint. Therefore, leg power, grip strength, and running speed among professional physical fitness factors are judged to be important factors in improving pitcher’s throwing velocity, and are judged to be effective basic data for analyzing and training pitchers’ physical strength in the future.