How Many Pitches Should Be Thrown in Pitching Practice?
People like a simple number. There isn't one. The right number of pitches in a practice or bullpen depends on age, time of year, what the session is for and how much the pitcher has thrown in games that week. (The original version of this post included a formula for counting practice pitches. It wasn't a real method, so we've removed it.)
Start from the workload, not the session
Your arm doesn't know the difference between a game pitch and a bullpen pitch. The safest way to plan practice is to fit it inside a sensible weekly workload:
- Follow game pitch limits and rest days. MLB and USA Baseball's Pitch Smart guidelines set a daily maximum and required rest by age (below).
- Plan bullpens around game days. Don't stack a hard bullpen the day before or after a big outing.
- Count warm-ups and hard throws like pulldowns as part of the load.
- Take time off every year. Pitch Smart recommends at least four months off from throwing (from competitive pitching for ages 15–18), with 2–3 continuous months.
Pitch Smart daily limits and rest
| Age | Daily max (game pitches) | 0 days rest | 1 day | 2 days | 3 days | 4 days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7–8 | 50 | 1–20 | 21–35 | 36–50 | N/A | N/A |
| 9–10 | 75 | 1–20 | 21–35 | 36–50 | 51–65 | 66–75 |
| 11–12 | 85 | 1–20 | 21–35 | 36–50 | 51–65 | 66–85 |
| 13–14 | 95 | 1–20 | 21–35 | 36–50 | 51–65 | 66–95 |
| 15–16 | 95 | 1–30 | 31–45 | 46–60 | 61–75 | 76–95 |
| 17–18 | 105 | 1–30 | 31–45 | 46–60 | 61–80 | 81–105 |
| 19–22 | 120 | 1–30 | 31–45 | 46–60 | 61–80 | 81–105 |
Source: MLB Pitch Smart pitching guidelines, read Oct 24, 2026. The column is the required rest after that many pitches in a day. The 19–22 table on the source page stops at 105 pitches and doesn't list rest above that.
Make each practice pitch count
- Have a goal for every bullpen: fastball command, a new changeup grip, working from the stretch.
- Quality over quantity. Fewer, focused pitches beat a long, tired session.
- Stop when the arm tells you. Slower arm speed, falling velocity or losing the strike zone are signs of fatigue. A radar gun makes a velocity drop easy to see.
- Keep a log. Write down pitch counts and velocity so you can see trends.
Handling a bad pitch
Every pitcher throws bad ones. Don't let one pitch ruin the session. Take a breath, reset your routine and focus on the next one. Mistakes in practice are part of how you get better.
More on keeping arms healthy: rest and pitch limits for young pitchers and baseball arm care.
Track velocity during practice. See our guide to the best baseball radar guns →
FAQ
Do bullpen pitches count toward pitch limits?
Official game pitch limits count game pitches, but your arm counts every throw. Bullpens, warm-ups and hard practice throws all add to workload, so plan them around game days and rest days.
How many pitches should a 12-year-old throw in practice?
There's no official practice number. Pitch Smart's game limit for 11–12-year-olds is 85 pitches per day, with rest days based on the count. Keep practice bullpens shorter than a game outing and don't schedule them right before or after a heavy game.