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Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Analytics, to quantify baseball pitch metrics, take on many forms and are unlike earlier methods to assess performance.

OBJECTIVE:

Quantify associations of flight kinematic and anthropometric variables on pitch release speed.

METHODS:

Male college-age pitchers ( $n=$ 182) from 2021 Division I games provided data. A 3D radar system collected data. Fixed effects regression OLS models analyzed data for sliders, changeups, curveballs, and fastballs.

RESULTS:

Spin rate ( $r=$ 0.017–0.514, $p<$ 0.05) and vertical break ( $r=$ 0.374–0.703, $p<$ 0.05) were positively associated with pitch release speed per pitch type. Release height ( $r=$ $-$ 0.286–0.051, $p<$ $-$ 0.05) and pitch extension ( $r=$ $-$ 0.176–0.43, $p<$ 0.05) were negatively associated with pitch release speed per pitch type except sliders. Spin axis had a negative association with pitch release speed for fastballs ( $r=$ $-$ 0.235, $p<$ 0.05) and sliders ( $r=$ $-$ 0.311, $p<$ 0.05), and a positive association ( $r=$ 0.029, $p<$ 0.05) with curveball pitch release speed. Weight only related to pitch release speed for fastballs ( $r=$ $-$ 0.315, $p<$ 0.05). Height did not impact pitch release speed.

CONCLUSIONS:

Results refute long-held beliefs of anthropometry’s influence on performance and instead reveal flight kinematics’ impact on baseball pitch release speed.

Keywords

Vertical break spin rate kinematics anthropometrics

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Pitch release speed predictors for division I collegiate baseball players