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Little League Pitch Speed Compared To MLB

By Aditya update Bhattarai / 27 July 2023 02:30 AM

Pitching pace of Little league players have a higher equivalent speed when converted into MLB level.
Source : facebook

Little League pitch speed compared to MLB is low due to the lower pitching distance from the home plate. They are based on the MLB pitching length and speed.

The common formula to convert the pace uses Speed x Pitching distance (required) / Actual Pitching distance. If a 77 mph LL pitching is done from 43 feet, it is converted to an average of 101 MLB pace.

This formula is based on the factorial velocity of each pitching distance to figure out an equivalent value for the given space. The difference in rules and field size between these games has brought this method to understand it in regular Major League values.

Little League Baseball field dimensions are smaller compared to an official MLB ground. It uses a 43 feet distance from the hitter to the pitching rubber since it is a league for younger kids up to 12 years.

Meanwhile, MLB uses 60 feet 6 inches length between the hurler and batter. They are professional standards according to their official rule books.

Since the difference in dimensions can affect the evaluation of players as compared to the Major League hurlers, broadcasters convert them to an equivalent MLB value. They are not always accurate since it is based on an estimated outcome using a relevant pattern.

70 MPH Little League Pitch To MLB

Little League to MLB pitch speed for 70Mph is 98.5Mph if the pitcher was 43 feet away from home plate. It depends on the distance and velocity of the pitches.

The equivalent values for various Little League baseball teams can be calculated using the formula. It is determined by multiplying the little league pitching speed by the official MLB distance from the hitter and pitchers.

Lastly, the value has to be divided by the current pitching distance which results in the equivalent speed value for a major league game.

Little League pitcher ready to throw a fastpitch during the World Series.
Source : facebook

The following table provides an estimated conversion for different pitching speeds for a little league game. It is based on LL speed from 50-60 Mph to MLB equivalent in a 40 feet pitching distance.

Real Speed for Little League (40 feet Pitching distance)MLB Pitch Speed Equivalent
1. 5076
2. 5177
3. 5279
4. 5380
5. 5482
6. 5583
7. 5685
8. 5786
9. 5888
10. 5989
11. 6091

While this table represents the Little League speed for the 10U division using a 40 feet pitching length. Similarly, the conversion for the 11-12 years uses 46 feet of pitch length.

Little league to MLB equivalent of pitching speed for 46ft and 54ft pitching length.
Source : efastball

For the hurlers under twelve years throwing at a speed of 75Mph converts to 99Mph in Major League value. the formula for the conversion is affected by the pitching length.

Likewise, pitching speed for players from 13 to 14 years old plays at a pitching length of 54 feet. Based on the given calculation method, the MLB equivalent speed of Little League players throwing 80Mph will only be 90 Mph for this age group.

Little League Pitch Count Chart

Little League Pitch Count Chart limits 50 pitches per day for ages 7 to 8 years group. The maximum pitches allowed for ages 13 to 16 years youths is 95.

The pitch count chart records the number of pitches in a game to monitor it as per the maximum limit per division. It governs the eligibility of a player to continue pitching in the Little League Baseball, Softball, and Challenger games.

They are tied to the number of pitches thrown in a game. Their pitch count also determines their required days of rest before being allowed to pitch again.

Here are the limits that governs the pitch counts different age groups of Little League Baseball:

Little League Pitch Count Age GroupPitches Per Day Limit
For 13 to 16 Years95 pitches
For 11 to 12 Years85 pitches
For 9 to 10 Years75 pitches
For 7 to 8 Years50 pitches

Little League World Series MLB Players

Little League World Series to MLB includes players such as Cody Bellinger, Michael Conforto, and Todd Frazier. There are 64 MLB players from Little League.

Confirto is the youngest player to hit a home run in World Series Games after Miguel Cabrera.
Source : twitter

Here is the list of all the players to play in both Little League and Major League Baseball.

  • 1953 - Jim Barbieri
  • 1954 - Carl Taylor
  • 1954 - Ken Hubbs
  • 1954 - Billy Connors
  • 1954 - Boog Powell
  • 1958 - Keith Lampard
  • 1958 - Rick Wise
  • 1958 - Hector Torres
  • 1962 - Larvell Blanks
  • 1967 - Bobby Mitchell
  • 1968 - Jim Pankovits
  • 1969 - Carney Lansford
  • 1970 - Ben Hayes
  • 1971 - Lloyd Mcclendon
  • 1973 - Ed Vosberg
  • 1975 - Vance Lovelace
  • 1977 - Charlie Hayes
  • 1978 - Dave Veres
  • 1978 - Erik A. Johnson
  • 1979 - George Tsamis
  • 1980 - Gary Sheffield
  • 1980 - Derek Bell
  • 1981 - Dan Wilson
  • 1982 - Wilson Alvarez
  • 1983 - Marc Pisciotta
  • 1984 - Jason Varitek
  • 1985 - Jim Brower
  • 1985 - David Cortes
  • 1989 - Kevin Cash
  • 1990 - Jason Bay
  • 1990 - Chin-Feng Chen
  • 1991 - Jason Marquis
  • 1991 - Brian Esposito
  • 1992 - Sean Burroughs
  • 1994 - Guillermo Quiroz
  • 1994 - Yusmeiro Petit
  • 1995 - Jeff Frazier
  • 1996 - Jeff Clement
  • 1996 - Clete Thomas
  • 1996 - Adam Loewen
  • 1997 - Lastings Milledge
  • 1998 - Todd Frazier
  • 1999 - Lance Lynn
  • 1999 - Stephen Fife
  • 1999 - Colby Rasmus
  • 1999 - Cory Rasmus
  • 1999 - Michael Saunders
  • 2001 - Francisco Peña
  • 2001 - Ruben Tejada
  • 2003 - Devon Travis
  • 2003 - Brady Rodgers
  • 2003 - Randal Grichuk
  • 2004 - Michael Conforto
  • 2004 - Christian Bethancourt
  • 2004 - Jurickson Profar
  • 2004 - Jonathan Schoop
  • 2004 - Wei-Chung Wang
  • 2005 - Max Moroff
  • 2005 - Andrew Stevenson
  • 2006 - Jace Fry
  • 2006 - Gavin Cecchini
  • 2006 - Scott Kingery
  • 2006 - Josh Lester
  • 2007 - Cody Bellinger
  • 2007 - Cooper Hummel
  • 2008 - Drew Ellis
  • 2009 - Yohel Pozo
  • 2009 - Nick Pratto
  • 2011 - Yonny Hernandez

Jim Barbieri was the first player to compete in both World Series games of Little League and MLB. There have only been 14 players to complete this feat from 1956 to 2023.

Likewise, Ed Vosberg was the first of the only three players to play in all three World Series from the Little League, Collegiate, and Major League Baseball. Michael Conforto and Jason Varitek are the remaining two players to achieve it.

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