Expert: Rick Bundy - 5/11/2011

Question
Doing various drills during a 1 hour practice, what is the maximum number of throws each player should make? I'm not talking about pitches, just regular throws my 2nd baseman or catcher would make during the hour practice?

Answer
Matt:  Thank you for your question.

While pitchers at all levels are on pitch counts, position players are generally under no set guidelines.

Factors to consider would be the age of the players involved, the older they are the higher number of throws they are able to handle, do they also pitch and the number of pitches they throw in that capacity during the week, and the types of throws made.  More stress on outfielders arms than infielders arms.  More stress on catchers arms than infielders arms.

Type of drill you are running is a factor.  Fielding ground balls and making throws in the infield is far easier on the arm of your shortstop and second baseman than a team double cutoff drill.

We limit our infielders in practice by having them put fielded fungos in a bucket, only letting them throw one segment to first base, as well as one double play segment.  We get a lot of ground balls, enough throws to stay sharp, and limit the stress on their arms over the course of a season.  If a pitcher is also a position player, his drill time throwing is substantially decreased.

The same situation can be applied to outfielders.  Have them take a bucket out to put balls in.  A lot of fly balls and ground balls, no throws.

Working hard on their throwing mechanics can go a long way in preventing sore arms and injuries, as well as increasing their velocity and accuracy.  The better their mechanics, the easier it is on their arms.

We always tell our players, we have the time to teach you to do things the right way, we don't have time to heal a sore arm.  Baseball is a hard game to play when your arm is sore.

Like all baseball drills, keep it short and keep it fresh.  Even if you haven't accomplished what you hoped you would in the time limit you set, move on and go back to it another day.  It's not so much how many repetitions, but the quality of those repetitions.

Good luck with your kids.  As you go along you start to get a feel for how they are doing and whether to increase or decrease.  Throw in some days occasionally where the only throwing they do is to warm up.  It could be an all hitting day, or all defensive day; with all balls going in a bucket.  

Yours in baseball,

Rick