What's The Average Youth Baseball Pitching Speeds For Pitchers Age 10+?

By Steven Ellis, former Chicago Cubs pitching pro

I'm often asked what are the ranges (average, above average, excellent) for a 10, 11 or 12 year old's baseball pitching speed. Some of the kids that I do pitching lessons for that are 10-12 years old are around 50 mph to low 60's mph.

Yet, I'd like to encourage you to try not to worry too much about speed at this age. Location, location, location! Location is far more important. Changing speeds and keeping the hitter guessing will also help you be successful.

Although pitching speed will eventually get you drafted, at the youth baseball level, here is my list from most important things to focus on instead of youth baseball pitching speeds or how hard you're throwing compared to the next guy.

1. Location
2. Movement
3. Velocity

Now let's build on this for a minute. Generally, 14 year old average cruising speed would be about 65 mph. Average freshman pitcher (14 to 15 year old) cruising speed would be about 70 mph. Average cruising speed for a good high school pitching prospect at 14 to 15 years old would be about 75 mph. That will usually get a freshman pitcher onto the JV team, assuming reasonable pitching ability to go along with the pitching 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.

I do a lot of work with 14-15 year old pitchers. In our area, average cruising speed for a 15 year old (which would normally be a freshman) is somewhere between 65-69 mph.

At 70+ mph would be good.

At 75+ mph would be very good (and probably a ticket to the sophomore or JV team.

At 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 cruising youth baseball pitching speed occasionally.

It is amazing how much slower everyone throws when a quality and accurate baseball radar 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 cruised.

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