outfield throwing distance

[donny90]

are there guys out there that can throw over 300 feet???

[Williamsburg2599]

In a word, yes.
http://photos.imageevent.com/siggy/throwing/pro/vlad-long-toss.gif

[Baseball gLove]

There are a lot of high schoolers that can throw over 300 feet. My son can. Yesterday, my son's high school team faced a team that has at least 4 players that I saw throw over 300 feet during their pregame warm up. That high school sends their squads to Jaeger's Long Toss camps.

[Bumpy_CZE]

There are a lot of high schoolers that can throw over 300 feet. My son can. Yesterday, my son's high school team faced a team that has at least 4 players that I saw throw over 300 feet during their pregame warm up. That high school sends their squads to Jaeger's Long Toss camps.

Long toss camp? That sounds interesting. How much do they improove there?

[SluggerCF91]

I can throw over 300 feet on a warm day.

[achaley07]

300 feet is not actually that far players on my team as well as myself often have competitions to see who can throw it over our fence which is measured at about 310

[neil]

I am reluctant to reply to this for fear that it may be misunderstood, but I, as a 15 year old, could throw a baseball consistantly between 400 - 410 feet. There were 2 other players on our high school team that could throw
350-375 feet. There was an article in a sports magazine that said Rocky Colivito of the Cleveland Indians was measured at 406 feet, and I had never tried to measure a long throw by me so I just had to try it. We had regular throwing contests 2-3 times a week with the results consistantly the same.

Major league scouts wanted you to throw a line drive from 250 feet; outfield to home plate.

[donny90]

as a 15 year old, could throw a baseball consistantly between 400 - 410 feet.

so is there a reason you arent making 9 million dollars a year?

[Jake Patterson]

I am reluctant to reply to this for fear that it may be misunderstood, but I, as a 15 year old, could throw a baseball consistantly between 400 - 410 feet.

Wow, that means you could take a ball at 15 y/o and throw it over the center field wall of every American League Major League Park with the exception of Comerica, Fenway and Tropicana. That's some good throwing at 15. Most pros can't do that.

At 15 I would say the average HS freshman can throw a ball at about 180-190'

Jake

[achaley07]

a 14-15 year old should be able to throw a ball atleast 250 feet or maybe its different in texas i dunno but throwing a ball 400 feet is unheard of there are 0 guys in the world who can throw a ball that far. according to some people in order to throw a ball 300 ft you have to be able to throw a ball 90 mph. dont get me wrong just because you can throw a ball 90 mph with a crow hop doesnt mean you can throw 90 from the mound. so in order to throw a ball 400 feet you would have to throw the ball 120 mph.

[TG Coach]

Wow, that means you could take a ball at 15 y/o and throw it over the center field wall of every American League Major League Park with the exception of Comerica, Fenway and Tropicana. That's some good throwing at 15. Most pros can't do that.

At 15 I would say the average HS freshman can throw a ball at about 180-190'

Jake

Come on Jake. Three of my 14U (just finished 8th grade) travel players were recently at the LL complex watching one kid's younger brother in an all-star game. They went over the other field to do some soft toss in the cage and throw. Then they stood at home plate and threw balls over the fence (200 feet) just stepping into the throw.

[Jake Patterson]

Come on Jake. Three of my 14U (just finished 8th grade) travel players were recently at the LL complex watching one kid's younger brother in an all-star game. They went over the other field to do some soft toss in the cage and throw. Then they stood at home plate and threw balls over the fence (200 feet) just stepping into the throw.

It is what it is... I suggest to coaches and dads before they go down the, "whose son can throw further" debate to go to a big field and test it. Pace off home to second base and then pace the same to center field. This is 254' feet. Have them set at the plate and throw. If they throw it over the fence great, if they can't then you'll know.

The only thing I know for certain is what I can throw.

[TG Coach]

As a kid I was at Fenway when Reggie Smith and Carl Yastrzemski stepped out of the dugout and threw balls into the leftfield screen. According to the papers, Dick Williams (manager) went nuts on them about risking their arms. When Dwight Evans came along, he had a better arm.

[Baseball gLove]

a 14-15 year old should be able to throw a ball atleast 250 feet or maybe its different in texas i dunno but throwing a ball 400 feet is unheard of there are 0 guys in the world who can throw a ball that far. according to some people in order to throw a ball 300 ft you have to be able to throw a ball 90 mph. dont get me wrong just because you can throw a ball 90 mph with a crow hop doesnt mean you can throw 90 from the mound. so in order to throw a ball 400 feet you would have to throw the ball 120 mph.


A 300 foot throw means one could throw +80 mph. My son can throw over 300 feet. He can not throw 90 mph, at least not yet. Jaeger a long toss guru advocates connecting long toss mechanics with pitching.

[virg]

As a kid I was at Fenway when Reggie Smith and Carl Yastrzemski stepped out of the dugout and threw balls into the leftfield screen. According to the papers, Dick Williams (manager) went nuts on them about risking their arms. When Dwight Evans came along, he had a better arm.

All you really have to do is hit the cutoff man, on-the-line at the glove-side shoulder. Joe D advised long ago to never throw all you've got except when it's needed in a game. Doing otherwise can cause a year-long sore arm. It's your arm, so who takes care of it for you.

[DunninLA]

Hey Virg,

I agree trying to throw as far as you can is not safe -- without being warmed up and in shape, as it could likely hurt your elbow or rotator cuff... especially in the deceleration part of the throw.

I've been meaning for some time to check out the Jaeger Long Toss stuff. I see no reason why a person could not build up to throwing 300+ feet on a regular basis without endangering their arm.

Re: "all you have to do is be able to hit your cutoff", that is true. But you want to be able to hit the cutoff on a rope, not rainbow. No reason a person shouldn't be able to throw from mid center field, at 12-15' above the ground, and have the ball go 6" above cut-off's glove-side shoulder and right into the catcher's glove, without a bounce.

P.S. there is more to a long throw than velocity. There is also the rotation of the ball. A good backspin increases distance substantially compared to the same exit velocity of a ball thrown with sidespin.

P.P.S Technically there are five factors affecting how far a person can throw the ball at a given exit velocity: rotation of the ball, vertical angle of the throw, wind, density of the air, and altitude.

[donny90]

I don't think a 15 y/o can....

okay i KNOW if you can throw 400 feet then you MUST be making 5 million or more a year, playing in the majors cause if you arent, then well your pretty dumb not showing off that talent on national television....just my 2 cents!

[Drill]

I don't think a 15 y/o can....



15 y/o's can do anything


don't discourage them

[Jake Patterson]

15 y/o's can do anything


don't discourage them

I'm not discouraging anyone. I'm (as BM would put it) seeking truth. Have YOU ever seen a 15 y/o throw a ball over the center field fence from home plate at most ball parks??

[TG Coach]

I'm not discouraging anyone. I'm (as BM would put it) seeking truth. Have YOU ever seen a 15 y/o throw a ball over the center field fence from home plate at most ball parks??

I've seen one throw a strike from the centerfield fence to home on one hop at fifteen. He was already 6'1", 175. He became a first round pick out of college.

[brett]

A 300 foot throw means one could throw +80 mph. My son can throw over 300 feet. He can not throw 90 mph, at least not yet. Jaeger a long toss guru advocates connecting long toss mechanics with pitching.

With backspin you don't need to throw 80 MPH to throw 300 feet.

[brett]

We had a 5-2 118 pound freshman who caught a fly ball against the 300 foot deep centerfield wall, fell to his knees and doubled up the runner at first on a dead strike-no bounce from his knees. Thats about 215 feet I think.

[Jake Patterson]

I've seen one throw a strike from the centerfield fence to home on one hop at fifteen. He was already 6'1", 175. He became a first round pick out of college.

I was talking a professional park 400-420'

[TG Coach]

I was talking a professional park 400-420'

When I was a kid we didn't have altered distances so kids could feel good about hitting 300 foot homers. We played in full size parks. I figure the ball bounced off the 400 foot mark, was scooped at 390 and the kid threw out the runner at the plate on a one hop throw.

[Drill]

I'm not discouraging anyone. I'm (as BM would put it) seeking truth. Have YOU ever seen a 15 y/o throw a ball over the center field fence from home plate at most ball parks??


That's not the point, sometimes we just have to let them look at themselves in the mirror. If they want to believe they can throw it that far who am I to say they can or cannot.

It could be someone just fishing instead of playing ball.


respectfully yours,

drill

[Jake Patterson]

That's not the point, sometimes we just have to let them look at themselves in the mirror. If they want to believe they can throw it that far who am I to say they can or cannot.

It could be someone just fishing instead of playing ball.


respectfully yours,

drill
Agree.... it is what it is.

[brett]

We had a 5-2 118 pound freshman who caught a fly ball against the 300 foot deep centerfield wall, fell to his knees and doubled up the runner at first on a dead strike-no bounce from his knees. Thats about 215 feet I think.

Actually I double checked and that would be 245 feet on the fly from his knees. The problem was 3 years later, he was a 5-4 135 pound senior.

[neil]

I have read with amazement the replies to my message of being able to throw a baseball over 400 feet as a 15 year old. THIS MESSAGE WAS NOT ABOUT ME PERSONALLY. It was about being able to throw a ball over 300 feet!!! To all of the naysayers, donny90, Jake, drill, et al out there WHAT are you trying to say? That no one could possibly do this? To donny90 what type of math are you using to come up with 400 ft = 120 mph on the mound.
This is totally ludicrous. Why am I not making 9million a year shows what little baseball knowledge you have. To think "that alone" would qualify a person for stardom is thinking in a very low direction.
To Jake I say...I am very disappointed in your comments especially since you have on your posts "He who dares to teach MUST never cease to learn".
300 ft is NOT a long throw for anyone in high school. You are talking about 180 feet. In LITTLE LEAGUE we had about 7-10 guys who could throw a measured 180-190 ft with 2 of us at over 215 feet. Age 12. I am not sure where you coach, or who you are coaching or watching, but if you are only seeing 180 foot throws I am totally amazed. There is enough documentation on BBF concerning 400 foot throws.
I had my day in the sun, but it was not because of being able to throw a baseball 400 ft. Scouts could care less if you can throw that far. They are looking for line drive throws at 250 ft.
Basicly, a few of are looking at this as a lie. To you that view this as a lie please get out more and look at thse players. I was gifted with a strong arm, but certainly far less than what has been done and what IS being done out there on baseball fields TODAY.
By the way Jake, if it helps I was 15 years old and 10 months when I first threw this distance. Just for the record Coach.

[Go Cardinals]

He never said that people only threw 180, he said he thinks the average is around their!

[Jake Patterson]

To all of the naysayers, donny90, Jake, drill, et al out there WHAT are you trying to say? That no one could possibly do this? To donny90 what type of math are you using to come up with 400 ft = 120 mph on the mound. This is totally ludicrous. There was a well documented report, which I will find for you, that associated speed with distance. Calculating distance using velocity and resistance is a very common practice in many fields.

To Jake I say...I am very disappointed in your comments especially since you have on your posts "He who dares to teach MUST never cease to learn". 300 ft is NOT a long throw for anyone in high school.
No I am talking High School. I do not coach Little League. 400 feet is taking the distance from home to second times 3.15. In my years associated with HS and Legion I have not seen a 15 y/o who can do that. HG (as a professional player) has suggested there are few pros, if any, who can do that.

By the way Jake, if it helps I was 15 years old and 10 months when I first threw this distance. Just for the record Coach.

I am not disputing YOUR claim I am merely pointing out my own experiences concerning the claim. That's the great thing about things like speed and distance. They are measurable - It is what it is.

[neil]

Jake, maybe in growing up in the Washington D.C. metro area with the population base being very high I had the opportunity to see and play against a higher level of talent. I don't know. I know that no one on our HS or Legion team that played outfield threw less than 300 feet; actually much more.

I know that when the scouts looked at you they wanted to see you throw from a distance of 250 feet to home plate...line drive, one hop or in the air all the way. As a coach in American Legion what do the scouts now look for in an outfielder's throwing to consider them a prospect in this one area? I would welcome any other comments from others who might also have experience in talking to scouts regarding this one tool. Thanx

[Tanner]

I am reluctant to reply to this for fear that it may be misunderstood, but I, as a 15 year old, could throw a baseball consistantly between 400 - 410 feet. There were 2 other players on our high school team that could throw
350-375 feet. There was an article in a sports magazine that said Rocky Colivito of the Cleveland Indians was measured at 406 feet, and I had never tried to measure a long throw by me so I just had to try it. We had regular throwing contests 2-3 times a week with the results consistantly the same.


So you consistently throw farther than the average Major Leauger? No offense, but Im not sure I can believe this. Im hoping you understand why so many people are a little slow to believe what you're saying, after all, it isnt everyday you see a 15 year old kid "consistently throw 400 ft"

[CanadianKid]

I don't believe it until I see it. However, if you can come up with proof, such as video, then hats off to you.

[neil]

Oh ye of little faith. Thank you for not saying that I was a liar. Steve Dalkowski, formerly in the Baltimore Orioles organization, was reported to have thrown a ball 430' plus...reported here on BBF. I had no problem throwing 375' and DID throw over 400' consistantly. Remember that we are talking about 300' being too far for a HS player. I KNOW that to be untrue.

Our HS had 2 other players that could throw 350-375 ft. Our American Legion team had 3 outfielders sitting on the bench that threw over 325 ft., and they were not considered to have adequate throwing arms.

[Jake Patterson]

Jake, maybe in growing up in the Washington D.C. metro area with the population base being very high I had the opportunity to see and play against a higher level of talent. I don't know. I know that no one on our HS or Legion team that played outfield threw less than 300 feet; actually much more.

I know that when the scouts looked at you they wanted to see you throw from a distance of 250 feet to home plate...line drive, one hop or in the air all the way. As a coach in American Legion what do the scouts now look for in an outfielder's throwing to consider them a prospect in this one area? I would welcome any other comments from others who might also have experience in talking to scouts regarding this one tool. Thanx

250' on a bounce for Legion Ball is not uncommon and is much more realistic. We were talking about 400' at 15 which means you could stand at the plate at most major league parks and throw it over most outfield walls.

[Tanner]

250' on a bounce for Legion Ball is not uncommon and is much more realistic. We were talking about 400' at 15 which means you could stand at the plate at most major league parks and throw it over many wall.

Exactly :applaud:

[wogdoggy]

By the way Jake, if it helps I was 15 years old and 10 months when I first threw this distance. Just for the record Coach.




Clips?:p .

[neil]

250' on a bounce for Legion Ball is not uncommon and is much more realistic. We were talking about 400' at 15 which means you could stand at the plate at most major league parks and throw it over most outfield walls.

Jake,Jake,Jake -I gave you every opportunity to give me feed back on what scouts are looking for in arm strength, but you are totally "stuck" on 400 ft.
Throwing at 400 ' is strickly exhibition material between team mates or to see just how far you can throw the ball. When I said that scouts wanted to see you throw the ball from a distance of 250' on a bounce or on the fly I was giving you "THEIR requirements" . You totally avoided my question. That was their requirement. Because I considered that distance to be so easy I would throw the ball on a line "OVER" the head of the catcher just so they could see that I could throw further than their reqirements.

My throws of 400-410 were measured by using a tape measure and several
players standing around the area that I felt the ball would land in. This was done on an open field. No bounces, hops, rolls, just where it hit the ground.
Yes, if you are stuck on the fact that I would/could throw it over most MLB walls so be it, but you are looking at a very small picture. This, as all throwing contests are, is a throw with a high arc for distance only. Not something that would have value in most game situations except that how hard(what type of velocity) from what distance is your arm valuable.

I was gifted with a strong arm. I did nothing to earn it. It was just a God given gift just like speed is. I was not superhuman. You are refusing to acknowledge that "ANYONE" can throw that distance. You are telling me that as a coach you have never seen anyone even come close to what I have thrown. If that is the case, with very due respect, I say that you are very far removed from the coaching scene.

You, and some other negative responses, have only reinforced me to reconsider my ability. I knew that my throws were very good, BUT not to the point that even a coach at the American Legion level would/could not believe
what I have said. If you say it cannot be done then I really feel good about my ability to throw over 400'. My goal at the time was to see how I compared to Rocky Colivito throwing 406'. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED and shame on you Coach Jake.

[Jake Patterson]

Jake,Jake,Jake -I gave you every opportunity to give me feed back on what scouts are looking for in arm strength, but you are totally "stuck" on 400 ft.
Throwing at 400 ' is strickly exhibition material between team mates or to see just how far you can throw the ball. When I said that scouts wanted to see you throw the ball from a distance of 250' on a bounce or on the fly I was giving you "THEIR requirements" . You totally avoided my question. That was their requirement. Because I considered that distance to be so easy I would throw the ball on a line "OVER" the head of the catcher just so they could see that I could throw further than their reqirements.

My throws of 400-410 were measured by using a tape measure and several
players standing around the area that I felt the ball would land in. This was done on an open field. No bounces, hops, rolls, just where it hit the ground.
Yes, if you are stuck on the fact that I would/could throw it over most MLB walls so be it, but you are looking at a very small picture. This, as all throwing contests are, is a throw with a high arc for distance only. Not something that would have value in most game situations except that how hard(what type of velocity) from what distance is your arm valuable.

I was gifted with a strong arm. I did nothing to earn it. It was just a God given gift just like speed is. I was not superhuman. You are refusing to acknowledge that "ANYONE" can throw that distance. You are telling me that as a coach you have never seen anyone even come close to what I have thrown. If that is the case, with very due respect, I say that you are very far removed from the coaching scene.

You, and some other negative responses, have only reinforced me to reconsider my ability. I knew that my throws were very good, BUT not to the point that even a coach at the American Legion level would/could not believe
what I have said. If you say it cannot be done then I really feel good about my ability to throw over 400'. My goal at the time was to see how I compared to Rocky Colivito throwing 406'. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED and shame on you Coach Jake.

Neil you keep trying to defend what you say you did by attacking what I say I've seen. I am not telling you what you have done or not done, nor am I questioning your honor, I have no idea who you are. Conversely it would be difficult for you to question my background with any accuracy unless you know me. Some here know me personnally and can vouch for my background, but that is not the issue at hand. If you have thrown that distance good for you that is a truly remarkable throw for someone 15 years old.

My input is based on 20 year of coaching and 40 years in the game. I have no clue what the pro scouts look for. When scouts have come to look at my players they seem to be more interested in accuracy at 250-300 feet than they are distance. None have ever asked me "how far can he throw." I am certain some do ask that question.

Again it's distance. It's easy to measure. If you did what you claim good for you. At my practices I line my guys up at 250' or so and get them used to hiting a target.