What muscles should pitchers workout?
Emily Sparks
Published Jan 08, 2026
Shoulders. Strong biceps and triceps are not the most important factor in pitching power; there are better muscles to focus on to increase your velocity. Having a strong shoulder is the key to pitch speed when it comes to your arms.
What muscles should pitchers train?
So if you want to excel on the mound—and decrease the risk of injuries—you'll need to work hard on not just your shoulders, throwing arm, and back, but also your hips, legs, and hamstrings. Pitching speed is directly proportional with arm speed, rather than the strength of isolated muscles like your biceps or triceps.
What muscles are most important for pitching?
Based on these case studies below, you will learn that the key muscles in the lower half contributing to the pitching performance is the calf, glute, bicep femoris, abductor and adductors. The most dominate in the first study is the calf in the drive leg and the glute in the landing leg.
Should pitchers lift weights?
When pitchers lift weights, their muscles get stronger so they can produce more force. When pitchers learn to express this force quickly through training, they improve their power. Power, therefore, is best described as strong movements performed with speed.
Do PLYO balls increase velocity?
In addition to increasing velocity, plyocare balls improve throwing consistency, arm movements, a pitcher's command of the ball, and so on. They are also designed to be used in multiple environments, such as warm-ups, training, and recovery.
19 related questions foundHow hard do d3 pitchers throw?
Division III players have a pitching velocity of 77 miles per hour to 82 miles per hour on average. Along with this, coaches often look for Division III players to have a strikeout to walk ratio of 1:1 and an ERA ranging from 2.50 to 3.50.
Are push ups good for pitchers?
Push-Ups are perfect for pitchers, because the shoulder blades can move freely (not locked down on a bench), similar to when you throw a ball. Lots of different variations can make Push-Ups more challenging, like Plyo Push-Ups or Push-Ups with resistance from a weighted vest, resistance band or chains.
What 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).
Are shrugs good for pitchers?
There really are no place for shrugs in the pitchers' workout. Shrugs also lead to a forward rounded shoulder. They strengthen the upper trapezius muscle which is almost never weak. Replace the shrug with Lower Trapezius exercises.
Do pitchers need strong legs?
Legs are a huge component in the beginning of a pitching motion. We need strength to produce power; therefore, the stronger a pitcher's legs are, the harder they are going to throw.
Can pitchers bench press?
Should Pitchers Bench Press? The answer is yes! If they use good form and even the 3 board technique then it gives the athlete the ability to assess upper body power while also enhancing it.
Do J bands increase velocity?
The eleven-step J-Band exercise routine is designed to balance, strengthen & condition the rotator cuff & surrounding muscle groups. These stretches are crucial for injury prevention, endurance, recovery period and increased velocity.
Should pitchers lift upper body?
The upper body is crucial to baseball pitching success, because it imparts the force from the legs into the ball. A strong upper body can improve your performance, whereas weakness or injury in this area can limit you.
Are triceps important for pitchers?
Some highly respected coaches like Tom House have been saying for several years now that it is very important for pitchers to strengthen their triceps to at least the same functional level as their biceps.
Are deadlifts 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 cardio good for pitchers?
Because the art of pitching is an anaerobic activity, not an aerobic activity. Making a pitch takes place in a fraction of a second followed by 20-30 seconds of rest. Success requires strength, speed and power, not aerobic fitness.
Is swimming good for a pitcher?
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.
Are weighted balls good for pitchers?
The researchers found pitch velocity had a statistically significant increase: 4.3% of external rotation in the weighted ball group. The overall injury rate was 24% in the weighted ball group (4/17, as two members were removed for non-throwing injuries).
Should pitchers run after pitching?
Many coaches require their pitchers to run right after the pitch, as well as the day after an outing. Doing this will ensure the pitcher's shoulder receives the proper nutrients necessary to remain healthy. Running foul poles is an easy task.
Are calisthenics good for baseball?
Calisthenics. Flexibility, agility and muscle endurance are more important for a broader segment of baseball players than simple muscle mass. This places a premium on calisthenic exercises such as jumping jacks, jumping rope, dips, pushups and pullups.
How fast do d1 baseball pitchers throw?
Prototypical Division I pitching recruits throw anywhere between 87 and 95 MPH on a consistent basis. It is important to remember that coaches are looking for pitchers to consistently throw at this velocity, not just touch it every once and awhile.
What MLB scouts look for in a pitcher?
Physical Maturity: Scouts will evaluate a pitcher's body to determine if he "feels" the pitcher can improve his velocity in the future with added strength and natural, physical maturity. Scouts will examine the height, weight, visual body fat, and athleticism to help them come to a conclusion.
Who is the fastest pitcher in college baseball?
'New York Post' reports that on May 1, Joyce, who pitches for the University of Tennessee, threw a 105.5 mph fastball against Auburn.