Like many of the best tips, this started life as a question, in this case directed to a long-time WebBall contributor. We think Pete's answer is true for any age.

by Pete Caliendo, Caliendo Sports International and IBAF Technical and Steering Committee

Q

: Should pitchers 15 and under try to master 4 pitches?

A

: I can assume the players are 15 yrs old. Second, not sure who told you these guys need 4 pitches; I have to strongly disagree. It is very hard to master 4 pitches at this age. As you know I have been with all ages, national teams, coached all over the world, have never seen a kid master 4 pitches at this age. Also, the important thing when developing pitchers in my opinion should be in this order...

1. Build strength in the core areas and the areas that allow you to speed up and slow down your throwing arm.
2. Develop great flexibility so that their balance and strength allow you to master the mechanics you are trying to teach.
3. Build great mechanics so location becomes allot easier and as you have a consistent release point with your fast ball it will be easier to control the off speed later.
4. Control means to consistently pitch in and out, which alone with a 4 seam fastball is a difference of 4-5 miles an hour, not to mention up and down and across down away, up in, and opposite as well. This is very difficult to do, takes a lot of work, great mechanics, balance, etc. You still have not even thrown your two seam fastball for location - that is another pitch. (I toss balls to guess in and out, in front toss and are able to get them out on location alone.)
5. Develop a 4 seam and a 2 seam fastball which becomes two pitches in itself.
6. Develop a 2 seam and 4 seam change up, looks like a fast ball but it is slower. Now you can master this pitch, up, in, down, across, etc. This will take a pitcher a long time to master these pitches, location, etc.

People talk about 4 pitches which means you work less on mechanics, strength and flexibility - because you are focusing on all kinds of pitches. Internally we do not know what is happening to the body, arms, etc., due to throwing different pitches. As the arm pronates out at release and you are throwing a curve, maybe the wrong way - the arm is pronating one way and you want it to go the other. Are you willing to take a chance that we are damaging a young kids arm because we have no idea what is happening internally?

Not to mention...

• they cannot get the other pitches over consistently,
• do not master any pitch very well,
• their release point seems to be all over the place,
• and mechanically they compensate when throwing other pitches.

I have to see pitchers anywhere in the world this age, except in Asia, who can master their mechanics and location with two pitches. If you can master those things first with your fastball and change then you can be a very successful pitcher - probably pitch more then you thought you could have pitched.

Keep in mind we are developing players at young ages and should not always be worried about winning games. Once they master the two pitches and very good location with a consistent release point, then adding more pitches will be easier. This is why the education of coaches and what their roles are is important to the development of the progress of the game.