Should pitchers lift heavy in season?
Emma Payne
Published Jan 07, 2026
The answer is a resounding “yes.” We can lift during the season, but there are considerations we need to make. The first, and in my mind most important, is fatigue. We need to be cognizant about the amount of fatigue placed upon our athletes and how that fatigue is actually accumulated in the weight room.
Do pitchers need to lift heavy?
My Recommendations For Pitchers:
Pushing to ultra-high weights on any given lift will have a negligible effect on pitching prowess. It will almost certainly make your arm irritated if you're lifting that way while pitching at even a moderate volume. And, the risk versus reward simply is not there.
Should you lift heavy during season?
The loads lifted during training sessions should stay high. Keeping the weights heavy allows players to maintain the strength and power the athletes spent the offseason building without risking overtraining. Don't: Lift heavy on game day. Save energy for the field on game days.
Should baseball players lift heavy?
Baseball players need to lift heavy to maximize their development as an athlete. Most people know that a more powerful and explosive baseball player is a better baseball player. However, reps of 12-14 on single-leg exercises is not going to get you there.
Is it good to lift after pitching?
A light workout after you pitch is a good way to keep your body loose, but lifting too heavy may get you really stiff. Nobody knows your body better than yourself, so do what works best for you. A good workout the day after you pitch is excellent for staying loose and keeping in pitching shape.
34 related questions foundWhat lifts should pitchers avoid?
4 Lifts Baseball Players Should Avoid
- Hang Clean. There are two critical points regarding hang cleans and other similar Olympic lifting exercises as it relates to baseball training. ...
- Barbell Back Squat. ...
- Upright Row.
Are squats good for pitchers?
So much of pitching and other athletic movements involves the glutes and hamstrings, and the back squat trains them much harder than the front squat (not to mention the higher amounts of weight you can move with the back squat).
Should you lift before baseball practice?
Professional strength and conditioning coaches suggest that weight training should occur after practice, not before it.
Is deadlift good for pitchers?
We've had sprinters do those with 150 pounds in each hand—so people can go pretty heavy on them.” The deadlift can help work out your glutes, increase flexibility in your hamstrings—very important for pitchers—and strengthen the lower back.
Is benching good for pitchers?
The Barbell Bench Press offers significant loading capabilities, which makes it a good option for increasing maximal or absolute strength in the upper body. Maximal strength is important for pitchers, as it serves as the base for power.
Do NBA Players weight lift during season?
A common misconception for young basketball players is that they don't lift weights during basketball season. No matter the circumstances it is important to maintain your routine throughout the season. If you were lifting before the season, then it is important to maintain your strength during the season.
How much should I be lifting in-season?
The last few pre-season cycles should be high intensity (85-100%) and low volume (1-3 reps) for pulls, bench presses, squats, etc. and 5-8 reps for supplemental lifts. Beginning of In-Season. For the first few weeks in-season, drop intensity (50-70%) and maintain low volume (3-5 reps).
Do MLB players workout during season?
Most baseball players have been diligent in their strength training during the off-season. Strength Coaches and Baseball Coaches understand that it's important for players to continue their strength training exericse while the season is going on.
Should I lift the day before I pitch?
Both soreness and reduced contraction force can be detrimental to performance, hence most pitchers will choose not to train the day before they pitch.
Are chin ups good for pitchers?
Although pull ups strengthen the lats, they also create considerable tightness in the lats, thus limiting shoulder elevation which is required to throw a baseball.
Should baseball players lift on game days?
All game-day weight training should include short duration sessions, and should avoid lifting until fully fatigued. The athlete should be able to leave the training hall refreshed and invigorated, rather than feeling beat up and totally spent.
Is it better to lift before or after practice?
Lifting After Practice
Most teams and players prefer to work out after a practice or even after games. According to former basketball player Thomas Emma, lifting after a practice or game should be done immediately after and be performed for no longer than 30 to 35 minutes.
What workouts should baseball players not do?
The following five exercises put baseball players at risk of injury and do not have much, if any, carryover to performance.
...
Therefore, they should be avoided in a sound baseball strength and conditioning program.
- Upright Rows. ...
- Empty Cans. ...
- Supermans. ...
- Dips. ...
- Barbell Bench Press.
How often should baseball players lift weights in the off season?
Typically, 2 days/week is plenty and 3 would be max. I also typically recommend taking one day per week completely off to allow your body to recover. Finally, I typically work 3 heavy weeks in a row with 1 week to “deload.” This allows your body to recover and allows you to see continuous strength gains.
Does lifting weights increase pitching velocity?
Gain Lean Muscle Mass
More body weight gives a pitcher more force when moving down the mound, thus having a positive impact on velocity.
Why do pitchers squat before pitching?
“I really feel like when I go down into that squat position and come back up, that's me being ready to throw. It separates each pitch from one another. It really helps me lock in that pitch,” Romano says.
Does swimming help with baseball?
As a pitcher, swimming is one of the best methods to build shoulder strength, endurance, and stability. Whenever you have the opportunity to train in the pool, you will find that the water creates a very low stress environment on the shoulders, but provides a tremendous amount of benefits.
Should baseball players hang clean?
Should we omit them from a proper baseball player's training regimen? Absolutely not. Power cleans train Rate of Force Development very well and help the athlete to develop a better sense for creating optimal ground reaction forces through the “jump” in the second pull of the movement.