MLB Equivalent Pitch Speed Calculator
Understanding how a pitcher's velocity translates across different mound distances is crucial for player development and scouting. This calculator helps you determine the "perceived" or "equivalent" speed of a pitch thrown from a shorter mound distance (common in youth leagues) if it were thrown from the standard Major League Baseball mound distance of 60 feet 6 inches (60.5 feet).
The concept is simple: if a pitch covers a shorter distance in a certain amount of time, what speed would be required to cover the MLB distance in the *same* amount of time? This gives a better apples-to-apples comparison of a pitcher's velocity potential.
Formula Used:
Equivalent Speed = (Target Mound Distance / Actual Mound Distance) * Actual Pitch Speed
Where:
- Actual Pitch Speed: The measured speed of the pitch (e.g., from a radar gun).
- Actual Mound Distance: The distance from which the pitch was thrown (e.g., 46 feet, 50 feet).
- Target Mound Distance: The distance you want to compare to (defaulted to MLB's 60.5 feet).
Understanding Equivalent Pitch Speed
When a young pitcher throws a fastball at 70 mph from a 50-foot mound, it's not directly comparable to an MLB pitcher throwing 95 mph from 60 feet 6 inches. The shorter distance means the ball reaches the plate faster relative to the distance covered. This calculator normalizes that difference, providing a speed that reflects the perceived velocity if the pitch were thrown from the longer, standard MLB distance.
For example, a 70 mph pitch from 50 feet feels much faster to a batter than a 70 mph pitch from 60.5 feet. By calculating the equivalent speed, we can see what that 70 mph pitch from 50 feet would "feel like" if it traveled the full MLB distance in the same amount of time it took to cover the 50 feet.
Why is this important?
- Scouting and Development: Helps scouts and coaches evaluate young pitchers' potential velocity more accurately by comparing them to MLB standards.
- Player Progression: Allows pitchers to track their velocity development as they move to longer mound distances.
- Batter Perception: Provides insight into how a batter perceives pitch speed from different distances, which can influence training and game strategy.
Example Calculation:
Let's say a high school pitcher throws 85 mph from a 60-foot mound (some high schools use 60 feet instead of 60.5 feet). What would that be equivalent to at the MLB distance of 60.5 feet?
- Actual Pitch Speed: 85 mph
- Actual Mound Distance: 60 feet
- Target Mound Distance: 60.5 feet
Equivalent Speed = (60.5 / 60) * 85 = 1.00833 * 85 ≈ 85.71 mph
This means an 85 mph pitch from 60 feet is roughly equivalent to an 85.71 mph pitch from 60.5 feet, indicating a slight increase in perceived velocity due to the slightly longer distance.
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