Journal of Trainology

 

 

October 2018; Vol. 7, No. 2: Pages 24-27

The relationship between measures of lower body power and pitching velocity in professional baseball pitchers

Paul T. Donahue, Erik Beiser, Sam J. Wilson, Christopher M. Hill, John C. Garner

Abstract

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between lower-body power output and pitching velocity in professional baseball pitchers. Design and Methods: A cross-sectional design was used to assess twenty-seven minor league baseball pitchers were for lower body power output using two methods. Countermovement vertical jump (CMVJ) and a 30 second sprint cycling test (Cycle) were used to calculate peak and mean power, as well as normalized peak and mean power respectively. Additionally, peak velocity, and mean velocity was assessed during the CMVJ with the use of a linear position transducer attached to a wooden dowel. Pitching velocity was measured as the greatest fastball pitch velocity for each subject recorded during a minor league spring training game. Mean velocity was that of all fastballs thrown. Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients were used to analyze the relationship between all variables with alpha levels set at p < 0.05. Results: Mean power during Cycle showed a significant positive relationship to both peak and mean throwing velocities (r = 0.441 and 0.428, respectively). Conclusions: Sprint cycling performance and more specifically the mean output over the duration of the sprint has a significant linear relationship with both peak and mean throwing velocity in professional baseball pitchers.

Received August 23, 2018; accepted October 6, 2018

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