Dr. Joe Chandler Running Study of Little League World Series Pitch Counts and Pitch Types

Updates

• 3/1/2011 Initial

Joseph B. Chandler, M.D., Director of Medical Services, Atlanta Braves, former Chairman of the MLB Medical Advisory Committee

The study involved analyzing videos of Little League World Series games from 1991, 1996, 2001, 2005, 2007, and 2010.

They were reviewed by a professional baseball player for pitch counts and types of pitches thrown.

Note: Based on watching Nick Crocker describe the study on the DVD, it sounds like "breaking ball" means curve ball, and "cut fastball" is really a (supinated) slider.

1991 LLWS

• 23% of all pitches were "breaking balls"
• High pitch counts uncommon
• 25% of starting pitchers threw 75+ pitches

1996 LLWS

• 31% of all pitches were breaking balls (8% more than 1991)
• More breaking balls thrown in late innings when pitchers were tired
• High pitch counts common
• 50% of starting pitchers threw 75+ pitches

2001 LLWS

• 37% of all pitches were breaking balls (6% more than 1996)
• 64% breaking balls were thrown in the championship game (FL vs. Japan)
• Pitchers in the championship game threw complete games (no pitch counts) with 110+ pitches each.
• More breaking balls thrown in late innings when pitchers were tired
• High pitch counts common
• 58% of starting pitchers threw 75+ pitches (8% more than 1996)

2005 LLWS

• 31% of all pitches were breaking balls (6% less than 2001)
• 40% if cut fastball included as breaking ball
• More breaking balls thrown in late innings when pitchers were tired
• High pitch counts common
• 56% of starting pitchers threw 75+ pitches (2% less than 2001)

2007 LLWS

• 24% of all pitches were breaking balls

2010 LLWS

• Taiwan threw the most changeups (22%)
• US teams threw NO changeups in 1,100 pitches
• In the championship game (HI vs. Japan) Hawaii threw 28% breaking pitches and Japan threw 44%.

Sources

• Injury Prevention and Coaching Clinic, Dr. Joe Chandler, Jan 15,2011
• Striking Out Injuries in Youth Baseball DVD, Resurgens Orthopaedics
• NY Times article Warnings for Children Are Clear, but Curveballs Are Rising, Not Sinking
• Pitching in Youth Baseball: Enough is Enough