Im wondering about the throwing speed of a 14 or 15yr old? I have taken the past to years off because of injury, and im affraid I wont be as good as the rest. thanks-

14 yo average cruising speed would be about 65 mph. Average freshman pitcher (14 to 15yo) cruising speed would be about 70 mph. Average cruising speed for a good HS pitching prospect at 14 to 15 yo would be about 75 mph. That will usually get a freshman pitcher onto the JV assuming reasonable pitching ability to go along with the velocity. Cruising at 80 mph as a freshman would be a potential star. Cruising at 85 mph as a freshman is maybe one in the entire country each year.

Thats what I was thinking, but my new Highschool next year only has a varsity team That I know of... I pitch around 60-70, And Im going to tryout and Not sure if pitching would be a option or should I try to take another field position? Im going to Clearwater Highschool in pinellas county, anyone heard of its baseball team and know if it has a jv and varsity team?thanks, very appreciated-
Will G.

Those numbers sound a bit low for our area. I am in KY and I would estimate the average freshman to be cruising in the 70-75 range. There are many that throw in the 80-85 range. I don't think I have seen any above that yet though.

agentdad...no offense, but have you used a gun? 80-85 for many freshman is WAY above the norm. 70-75 sounds closer, but still a little high for avaerage.

In our neck of the woods 63-68 is the average for a decent freshman pitcher on a freshman team. Fast is anything over 70. My experience is that everybodies much faster early in the year until I turn the gun on them. The really fast pitchers "estimated" in the 80's never seem to be able to get it done when the gun is around.

I think the two freshman pitchers I know about at our HS are cruising 69 or 70 and low 70s. I don't know what the 6' 170 lb 14yo pitching for the varsity throws. I believe TO HS has a freshman throwing 87 max according to one of the showcase firms, but he's 16yo and most likely on the varsity or the JV.

Of course Stock was throwing mid to high 80s last year as a 14yo freshman throwing for the varsity. I don't think our area is typical and I stand by my earlier estimates and if anything would drop them toward DG's numbers. I expect mine to be cruising about 68 or 69 as a freshman and am hoping for 70 to 72. He throws 67 and 68 when trying to throw hard so I'd put him as cruising at 63-64 for now. I also have a young 14yo on my Pony team who is cruising about 68-72 now so I figure he'll be low to mid 70s as a freshman.

CADad has some good points. Ages of Freshman can vary from 14-16 years old and at that age that can be a very big difference physically and potentially speed. I would also agree that some kids cruise at one speed and then pump it up 3-5 MPH occassionally. Other kids are comfortable cruising at their maximum.

I gun every pitcher I see at HS games and I see a lot....almost 50 games already this year.
Trust me when I say this: there are many more HS pitchers in the 70s than there are in the mid 80s.
My son is in the 8th grade and turned 14 2 weeks ago. He sits in the 74-76 range comfortably and that is way above average at 14U. We have 2 14U kids in the area (one the Baseball America POY last year)that hit 80 on my stalker this past weekend. That is exceptional.
I can't tell you how many people tell me about this kid or that kid that "must be in the upper 80s" and is in reality 81-83. Don't believe most of what you hear and you will be ahead of the game.

rbinaz is right on the money, in my experience. I have a 14 year old 8th grader who is a catcher but pitches too.

Mid 70's is above average; there is one guy I've seen in my state the last two years touching 80 at the age of 14. My son is a low 70's pitcher, and he's a pretty big strong kid.

A 14 year old at 80 or above is certainly not unheard of, but, like rbinaz says, it is exceptional.

rbinaz,
Way above average. I'll be absolutely thrilled if mine can sit at 72 next year as a 14yo. It'll take some work, some growing and some maturing for that to happen.

Starzz & DG are correct. Velocity is way overstated in most cases. I would love it if my 15 yr. old could hit 85, but he's a little shy of that. He is a varsity pitcher due to several factors, the least of which is velocity.

California is considered a hot bed of talent and we have travelled up and down the state at select events. I agree that some kids can actually get into the 80's at 13 & 14 years old. But these kids are exceptionally rare.

hey I am 12 years old and I haven't hit puberity yet. I normally cruise around 65. A parent came up to my dad and said that the JV coach was out looking and was standing by someone that had a gun and he said that the last pitch that I threw in a two inning outing hit 74 I was just getting warmed up. I feel like I am not giving it everything that I have. What I want to know is will I keep gaining speed or will I level off at a certain age?

The thing about this issue is that lots of these 13-15yo guys who throw high 70s to mid 80s, are the guys who grow really fast and weigh like 180 and are 6'0" tall. I am currently 14yo and am only 5'8" 135lbs. At this point in time, I throw about 75 tops, so compare me to someone the exact same age,but thats 5 inches taller,has adult bulk and weighs 180,and you'd definitely see a difference.

I do alot of work with 14-15YO pitchers. In our area, average cruising speed for a 15YO (which would normally be a freshman) is somewhere between 65-69. 70+ would be good. 75+ would be very good (and probably a ticket to the sophomore or jv team. 80+ would be exceptional (and a ticket to the varsity at most schools. Those are average speeds. Most can top out a couple mph over their crusing speed occasionally.

It is amazing how much slower everyone throws when a QUALITY/ACCURATE gun is around. Don't believe academy guns, and don't believe word of mouth. I have seen scout guns on many top prospects, and they usually cruise at least 3-4 mph below what I heard the crusied.

K13,
Pretty common for a top speed (throwing hard for the gun as opposed to highest speed ever recorded) to be reported as a cruising speed and cruising speed is almost always about 4 mph below top speed.

Last time we gunned my 13yo he was hitting 67-68 regularly and hit 69 once. I estimate his cruising speed at 63 to 64 on that gun.

i'm a hs freshman and i turned 15 april 13 (last wednesday). i was clocked last august at 66-68 consistently at a camp (i'm certain that this is an accurate radar gun). right now i would estimate that i'm cruising at 71-72, topping out at 74. i think i'll be able to get in front of a radar gun soon and i'll let you know how i do.....this will be a little experiment.

THE FB must be located to work. Speed will come with age and some attention to building rotary power and technique but the ability to work in and out with movement will allow you to survive. Bring that 83 plus MPH FB in HS that doesn't move and you can't locate and you will give up 10 runs quick. Way to much emphasis is placed on speed alone IMO

Couldn't agree more SwingBuster (read above my statement on coming up with a gun that measures movement and accuracy). Heck, I was a pitcher and even I could hit a flat 83 mph FB!