Pitch Smart Guidelines

Introduction to PitchSmart
Learn more about Pitch Smart from Dr. James Andrews, Yankees GM Brian Cashman and others

USA Baseball and MLB team up to help young players reduce arm injuries by providing a comprehensive resource for safe pitching practices.

Baseball is a safe game to play at all ages, but research has shown that pitching too much -- particularly at a young age -- can increase a pitcher's risk of injury.

Risk Factors for Injury

Through decades of research, experts have gained insight into the behaviors that put amateurs at an increased risk of injury. In the most recent nationwide study of youth pitchers, research found that youth pitchers were still exhibiting many of these risky behaviors, all of which were associated with increased likelihood of pitching with arm tiredness and arm pain.

pitched in a league without pitch counts or limits

pitched on multiple teams with overlapping seasons

pitched competitive baseball for more than 8 months per year

pitched on consecutive days

pitched in multiple games on the same day

Source: Yang G, Barton J, Guettler J, Dugas J, Irrgang J, Fleisig G, Albright J; Risk-Prone Pitching Activities and Injuries in Youth Baseball; American Journal of Sports Medicine; 2014

Tommy John Surgery FAQ

Tommy John surgery, also known as Ulnar Collateral Ligament (UCL) Reconstruction, is an elbow procedure that involves replacing a torn or damaged UCL with a tendon from elsewhere in the body. While the procedure has helped many players extend their careers, Tommy John surgery is poorly understood and there are many misconceptions about it among parents, players and coaches.

Billy Beane

"Tommy John surgery has both extended and resurrected the careers of many of our players, and the science of medicine has been an incredible boon to our game. That said, this procedure is not a panacea. The goal for young players should be to avoid being in the position where surgery is a possibility by diligently taking care of their arms. Getting to the big leagues is hard enough without having to go through rehabilitation from a major procedure."

Terry Francona

"Pitch Smart brings together some of the brightest people in our game, all of whom share one goal: informing our coaches, parents and players about the facts so that they can make educated decisions about how to approach pitching. The knowledge we have in the game today is an asset, and we are fortunate that Pitch Smart will allow us to apply that knowledge to the futures of pitchers at every level of our sport."

Advisory Committee

Meet the Pitch Smart experts

Resources

Resources that will help young pitchers avoid injury and aid performance. Learn how pitching mechanics and good habits will improve pitching proficiency. Stay up to date on the latest research and news on Tommy John surgery.