One of the hardest-throwing baseball pitchers of all time was Nolan Ryan. In 1974, Ryan was clocked by a Doppler laser radar throwing the ball at 108.1 miles per hour. According to eFastball.com, no one's beat that speed yet. Ryan was a starting pitcher with a number of teams from 1966 to 1993. He weighed in at 195 pounds and was 6 feet 2 inches tall when he threw the record ball for the California Angels.
Averages
As they age and develop their strength and technique, youngsters excelling at baseball increase the speed of their throws. According to eFastball, children younger than 10 may throw as fast as 50 miles per hour, while high schoolers playing regularly can pitch balls at speeds exceeding 80 mph. The average speed of pitches thrown by college pitchers shooting for the majors usually ranges between 80 and 95 mph.
Types
Different types of pitches hover in various ranges of top speed. For example, in major league baseball, 60 percent of fastballs reach about 90 miles per hour, while 10 percent of curveballs reach speeds of about 76 mph. Ten percent of the time, major league pitchers throw changeups at top speeds of 81 mph. Sliders tend to reach top speeds of about 83 mph only 15 percent of the time.
Variables
Pitching speeds are affected by a number of variables, according to The Complete Pitcher. The amount of force a pitcher puts into the throw and the stance he takes before throwing affect the speed and accuracy of each pitch. Leg stability and how the pitcher rotates his hips as he lets go of the ball play a role in the eventual speed. The pitcher's shoulder flexibility, arm stretch and wrist snap also factor into the ball's velocity.
Training
While baseball players must retain their overall top fitness levels to play successfully, power training can effectively help a pitcher develop more velocity on pitches. The basic components of power training workouts include lifting heavy weights for few repetitions, and plyometrics that involve various kinds of jumping routines and quick workouts with a medicine ball. Ballistics training helps pitchers come out of a standstill in full force, and explosive weight exercises require lifting weights as fast as possible.
Warning
Pitching places an inordinate amount of stress on the shoulder, and pitchers must be careful not to injure their shoulders during training. While weightlifting is one of the best ways to develop upper body strength to throw fastballs, lifting may not be worth the risk of injury. Strengthening exercises should be moderated so as not to place the pitcher at risk for injury and balanced with appropriate stretching.
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