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Range of Speed (in MPH) for Various Baseball Pitches by Age Group



Updates
  • 9/15/2014 - Added recap of YouGoProBaseball.com radar speeds by age
  • 1/20/2011 - Added Steven Ellis HS averages
  • 3/5/2010 - Clarified cutter stats
  • 8/14/2008 - Corrected title "Pro avg" to "MLB avg"
  • 8/10/2008 - Added average speed in major leagues based on August 2008 actual stats
Related Sources
  • All except below are based on radar readings by the editor. Our speeds measured out of the hand (close to pitcher). Some guns and devices (like radar balls and glove radar), while "accurate", measure speeds closer to the plate (which is slower).
  • (a) Pitch F/X 2008 season Average Speed by Pitch Type in the Majors
  • (b) Steven Ellis, The Complete Pitcher, from Wellesley, MA area
  • (c) Gunned pitch speeds from YouGoProBaseball.com

10U 11-12 13-14 High School College/ Pro (a)
(MLB avg)
Fastball
(2 seam, 4 seam, cutter, splitter)

Cutter 4-5 mph slower
Split finger 6-7 mph slower		 40-50 50-60 55-75 75-85

65-69 15yo avg (b)
(75) 15yo JV (b)
(80) 15yo HSV (b) 		80-95 (91)
(86-87 for cutter)
(84-85 for splitter)
Changeup
(palm ball, circle change)

10 mph slower than fastball
 30-40 40-50 45-65 65-75 70-85 (82)
Breaking Ball
(slider)

5-10 mph slower than fastball
 35-45 40-55 50-65 65-75 70-85 (84)
Breaking Ball
(curve)

15 mph slower than fastball
 25-35 35-45 40-60 60-70 65-80 (77)
Knuckleball
(movement begins at 50 mph)

15 to 25 mph slower than fastball
 25-35 30-40 30-50 50-60 55-70 (68)


Actual Radar Readings from YouGoProBaseball (c)
AgeAvgMedianModeRange
839393836-42
944454537-50
1047484741-55
1152555643-59
1255535447-61
1362636355-66
1468686863-73
1570686965-74
1676747569-80
1780818171-85
188384 75-92