Resources / Pitch count rules by age
Pitch Count Rules by Age
What MLB Pitch Smart says for each age group in baseball, in plain words. For the answer on a given day, use the pitch count calculator.
How to read these
Every age group has two numbers. The daily max is the most pitches a pitcher should throw in a day. The rest days are full calendar days off from pitching after that day, and they go up as the pitch count goes up. A pitcher who throws Monday and needs 2 days of rest pitches again Thursday.
One rule covers every age, whatever the pitch counts: no pitching in games on three days in a row. In Pitch Smart's words, "No pitcher shall appear in a game as a pitcher for three consecutive days, regardless of pitch counts."
These are guidelines. Your league or state association may use different numbers. High school baseball in New Jersey is one example: see the NJSIAA pitch count rules.
Ages 7-8
Daily max: 50 pitches
Up to 20 pitches needs no rest day. 21 to 35 needs one day, and 36 to 50 needs two. Pitch Smart has no three or four day row at this age, because a 7 or 8 year old should never get past 50 in a day.
Most of the work that matters at this age happens in practice. Keep outings short and play a lot of catch.
In PitchWise: set the team pitch limit to 50. PitchWise counts every pitch you chart, in games and bullpens, and tells you who's ready each morning.
Ages 9-10
Daily max: 75 pitches
Up to 20 pitches needs no rest day. 21 to 35 needs one day, 36 to 50 needs two, 51 to 65 needs three, and 66 to 75 needs four.
A kid who throws 70 on Saturday is done until Thursday. Plan the weekend with that in mind before the first pitch, not after the third game.
In PitchWise: set the team pitch limit to 75. PitchWise counts every pitch you chart, in games and bullpens, and tells you who's ready each morning.
Ages 11-12
Daily max: 85 pitches
The rest tiers are the same as 9-10: none up to 20, one day for 21 to 35, two for 36 to 50, three for 51 to 65, and four for 66 to 85.
Tournament weekends are where this age gets in trouble. Three games in two days is how a pitcher goes over without anyone noticing.
In PitchWise: set the team pitch limit to 85. PitchWise counts every pitch you chart, in games and bullpens, and tells you who's ready each morning.
Ages 13-14
Daily max: 95 pitches
Same tiers again: none up to 20, one day for 21 to 35, two for 36 to 50, three for 51 to 65, and four for 66 to 95.
Bodies change fast at this age. Watch command late in an outing; it often slips before the count tells you to stop.
In PitchWise: set the team pitch limit to 95. PitchWise counts every pitch you chart, in games and bullpens, and tells you who's ready each morning.
Ages 15-16
Daily max: 95 pitches
The tiers get wider at 15. Up to 30 pitches needs no rest day. 31 to 45 needs one, 46 to 60 needs two, 61 to 75 needs three, and 76 to 95 needs four.
A 40-pitch relief outing now costs one day instead of two. That makes it easier to use a reliever twice in a week, but count the bullpens too.
In PitchWise: set the team pitch limit to 95. PitchWise counts every pitch you chart, in games and bullpens, and tells you who's ready each morning.
Ages 17-18
Daily max: 105 pitches
Up to 30 pitches needs no rest day. 31 to 45 needs one, 46 to 60 needs two, 61 to 80 needs three, and 81 to 105 needs four.
This is high school ace territory, and most states set their own caps. New Jersey's is 110 per game with its own rest table; see the NJ high school rules. Your state's rule is the one you have to follow.
In PitchWise: set the team pitch limit to 105. PitchWise counts every pitch you chart, in games and bullpens, and tells you who's ready each morning.
Ages 19-22
Daily max: 120 pitches
This is the only age group with a fifth rest tier. Up to 30 pitches needs no rest day. 31 to 45 needs one, 46 to 60 needs two, 61 to 80 needs three, 81 to 105 needs four, and 106 to 120 needs five.
College programs usually have their own rules and staff on top of this. The table is still a sane floor for summer ball.
In PitchWise: set the team pitch limit to 120. PitchWise counts every pitch you chart, in games and bullpens, and tells you who's ready each morning.
The whole table
| Age | Daily max | 0 days rest | 1 day | 2 days | 3 days | 4 days | 5 days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7-8 | 50 | 1-20 | 21-35 | 36-50 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 9-10 | 75 | 1-20 | 21-35 | 36-50 | 51-65 | 66-75 | N/A |
| 11-12 | 85 | 1-20 | 21-35 | 36-50 | 51-65 | 66-85 | N/A |
| 13-14 | 95 | 1-20 | 21-35 | 36-50 | 51-65 | 66-95 | N/A |
| 15-16 | 95 | 1-30 | 31-45 | 46-60 | 61-75 | 76-95 | N/A |
| 17-18 | 105 | 1-30 | 31-45 | 46-60 | 61-80 | 81-105 | N/A |
| 19-22 | 120 | 1-30 | 31-45 | 46-60 | 61-80 | 81-105 | 106-120 |
Pitches in a day. N/A: no rest tier that high at that age, because the daily max comes first. The five-day tier (106-120 pitches, ages 19-22) is from Pitch Smart's 2018 update. Source: MLB Pitch Smart.
Every age, from Pitch Smart: No pitcher shall appear in a game as a pitcher for three consecutive days, regardless of pitch counts.
These are MLB Pitch Smart guidelines. Your league or state may differ. A planning guide, not medical advice.