Exercise Selection And Fastball Velocity: Relationships In Collegiate Pitchers

Document Type

Conference Presentation

Department

Health, Exercise, and Sport Sciences Department

Conference Title

American College of Sports Medicine - Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise conference

Organization

American College of Sports Medicine

Location

Virtual

Date of Presentation

8-1-2021

Journal Publication

Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise

ISSN

0195-9131

DOI

10.1249/01.mss.0000760828.14474.ae

Volume

53

Issue

8S

First Page

147

Abstract

In collegiate and professional baseball, fastball velocity is inversely correlated with opposing batting average. Although the importance of velocity is widely accepted, there is no consensus on the exercises that most accurately predict it. PURPOSE: To examine relationships between fastball velocity and isotonic power output in diverse exercise motions. METHODS: We recorded fastball velocity in 13 collegiate baseball pitchers using Rapsodo (Rapsodo Inc., USA) and conducted comprehensive biomechanical testing with Proteus (Proteus Motion Inc., USA). Players underwent baseline testing, followed by a 6-week training intervention, and were then retested. At both assessments, players completed 6 repetitions at 12 lb of magnetic resistance on 8 upper limb exercises (unilateral and bilateral biceps curl, triceps extension, horizontal row, and horizontal press) and 3 trunk and lower limb exercises (straight-arm trunk rotation, lateral bound, and vertical jump). Mean peak power (watts) across all repetitions was tabulated for each movement. Simple linear regressions evaluated associations between fastball velocity and power output for each movement at both time points. RESULTS: Subjects were 20.3 ± 1.3 years of age and had a mean fastball velocity of 85.4 ± 4.2 mph. At baseline, the only exercise that significantly predicted velocity was lateral bound (p = 0.033). Mean lateral bound power was 165.1 ± 20.0 watts, and each additional watt predicted a 0.1 mph increase in velocity (R2 = 0.164; 95% CI of β: 0.008 to 0.171). At follow-up, other positive relationships emerged. Each additional watt of power in lateral bound (p = 0.003; R2 = 0.313; 95% CI of β = 0.016 to 0.071), two-handed triceps extension (p = 0.012; R2 = 0.453; 95% CI of β = 0.013 to 0.082), two-handed horizontal press (p = 0.029; R2 = 0.363; 95% CI of β = 0.009 to 0.140), and straight-arm trunk rotation (p = 0.013; R2 = 0.232; β = 0.008 to 0.060) associated with increased fastball velocity. CONCLUSIONS: At baseline, lateral leg power appeared to be the dominant contributor to pitching velocity. Following a training intervention, variability in upper limb power output exhibited relationships with performance. Coaches and training staff may consider focusing on these exercises in training prescriptions for collegiate pitchers.

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