Should already know this, but I like to get opinions.

2010 son is slated to throw 3 innings Saturday evening as a guest player, then 3 innings on Sunday for his showcase team. He then wants to throw in a private workout for a coach on Monday.

Does anyone see any harm in this routine? He is in good shape/condition from the high school season, and has not pitched a whole lot this summer thus far. I can scrap the plans for the 3 innings on Saturday.

Thanks,

Be careful---kids in this situation want to impress and they tend to overthrow and do things they normally would not do

Couple of things to consider.

Because he hasn't thrown that much this summer should NOT be a reason to pitch two days in a row.

What if the 3 innings on saturday turn out to be 50-60 pitches thrown?

Is the showcase team the first commitment and did you ask the coach?

As far as the private workout, why would he do that the day after he pitches?

You might get other opinions but that's mine.

What is your son’s biological age?
What types of pitches does he throw, supinated or pronated?
What style of mechanics does he employ? Traditional or crow-step?
How has he trained to pitch in the last 9 months?

Never let your son pitch unless he’s ready to withstand the stress of competitive pitching!
Nothing to competition is one of these red-flag situations!

Sorry, should have been more specific.

TPM:

The 3 innings on Saturday has a 30 pitch limit if that comes first.

Showcase team is the first commitment. Did not run the guest appearance by that coach. Good catch, I will.

The private workout can be re-scheduled. I was just wondering if throwing 3 innings (or less) over the weekend would adversly affect that.

Yardbird:

He is 16, throws a 2 and 4 seam fastball, change-up, slider and started a curve ball this recent HS season. Traditional mechanics with a 3/4 arm.

He threw approximately 38 innings during the HS season, with approximately 13 innings thus far with his showcase team. He runs almost daily and throws a 25-30 pitch bullpen with one of his team mates 2 days before he is scheduled to pitch.

Thanks again,

Thanks for clarification.

I would, in all courtesy run it by the showcase team coach. In fact to me this is a big problem in youth BB. Kids play one day not letting their coaches know about other playing committments, then pitch again the next day.

Short relievers and closers can and do pitch more frequently, but they are trained that way.

BP's are for practice, it's always good to have someone there to make sure he's throwing correctly. Lots of mistakes can be picked up in BP's.

Best of luck in the tourney.

CNY2010,

He is 16,

This is the most important consideration; dealing with immature developing elbows makes it essential to protect this area until it matures (Solidifies). The major growth plates close off at biological 16 years old males. If your son is chronologically 16 years old and his elbows growth plates are 15 years biologically this would put 3 successive maximum effort-pitching performances at way over stressing them. Youth that pitch a lot and all year have biologically older arms on their throwing arm compared with their glove arm. There is as much as 4 years difference in biological age in adolescent males. A 9 year old (biologically) Elbow does not even show up in an X-ray. There is a chance he is biologically 17 years old? If he is an early maturer his elbow is ready to take more stress and it sounds like he’s been pitching one time thru the line up many times. If he never gets inflammation or soreness he will probably be OK. Give us a discomfort report after he finishes?

“throws a 2 and 4 seam fastball”.
Great pitches when pronated!

“change-up”
Nice, hope he turns it over.

“slider”
Uh oh!!! If he is supinating this pitch the way it has been taught in the past and is still being taught today he will be susceptible to extreme forearm flyout that causes a ballistic crash of bones together in hyperextension, the supinated cutter does this also.
These pitches can be pronated!

“and started a curve ball this recent HS season.”
Nice, Tell him to get on top of it and try to get “overspin”.

“Traditional mechanics with a 3/4 arm.”

This is where 3 consecutive days could be dangerous! If he brings the ball up with his hand on top he must then articulate his forearm into a backwards-moving bounce that micro tears the UCL with every pitch, these tears heal them selves each time and build up non-connective tissue material. This time in his life is where most kids get their biggest velocity gains and consecutive maximum efforts with out healing could be to cumulative.