Stats

Pitch Count — The Most Important Number in Youth Baseball

Pitch count is the total number of pitches a pitcher throws in a game. It's the most important number in youth baseball because it's the primary tool for preventing arm injuries. Every major youth baseball governing body — Little League, USSSA, Perfect Game, Babe Ruth/Cal Ripken — enforces pitch count limits by age, with mandatory rest days that increase as the count rises. What is a pitch count? (quick definition) →

Why Pitch Count Matters

Young arms are still developing. Overuse — throwing too many pitches in a game or not resting enough between appearances — is the leading cause of youth pitching arm injuries, including ligament damage that can require surgery.

Pitch count rules exist because innings alone don't capture workload. A pitcher who throws 15 pitches in an inning worked very differently from one who threw 35. The first is fine. The second is approaching fatigue. Pitch count measures actual workload.

Pitch Count Limits by Age (Little League)

Age	Daily Maximum	Pitches That Trigger Rest Days
7-8	50	1-20: 0 days, 21-35: 1 day, 36-50: 2 days
9-10	75	1-20: 0 days, 21-35: 1 day, 36-50: 2 days, 51-65: 3 days, 66-75: 4 days
11-12	85	1-20: 0 days, 21-35: 1 day, 36-50: 2 days, 51-65: 3 days, 66-85: 4 days
13-14	95	Same thresholds, max 95
15-16	95	Same thresholds, max 95
17-18	105	Same thresholds, max 105

These are Little League International rules. USSSA, Perfect Game, and other leagues may have different limits. Always check your specific league's rules.

Rizzler loads the correct rules automatically when you set your team's governing body. Rule compliance feature →

Rest Day Rules

Rest days are mandatory based on pitches thrown — not optional.

Example: A 12-year-old throws 58 pitches on Saturday. That falls in the 51-65 range → 3 mandatory rest days. The pitcher cannot pitch again until Wednesday (Sunday, Monday, Tuesday are rest days).

This means tournament planning requires careful pitch count allocation. If your ace throws 70 pitches on Saturday morning, they're unavailable until Thursday — well after the tournament ends. Managing pitching across a tournament →

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The Catcher-to-Pitcher Rule

In Little League, a player who has caught four or more innings is ineligible to pitch that same day. And a pitcher who has thrown 41 or more pitches cannot catch for the remainder of that day. This rule prevents the common scenario where the team's best athlete pitches and catches, overloading their arm.

Rizzler tracks catching innings alongside pitch counts and flags catcher-to-pitcher conflicts automatically. Pitch counting feature →

How to Track Pitch Counts

During games: Use Rizzler's iOS app. One tap per pitch (ball or strike). The app displays the live count, projects rest day impact, and alerts you before the limit. Full pitch counting walkthrough →

Across multiple games: Rizzler stores pitch count history for every pitcher. When you open game planning for the next game, ineligible pitchers are flagged. In tournament mode, pitch counts cascade across all games in the bracket.

What to avoid: Counting in your head. Using a mechanical clicker that doesn't record rest day impact. Writing it on the lineup card and forgetting to check it.

Pitch Count vs. Innings Limits

Some leagues (especially older USSSA and Babe Ruth formats) use innings-based limits instead of or alongside pitch count limits. Innings limits are simpler but less protective — a pitcher who throws 40 pitches in 2 innings has a very different workload than one who throws 15 in the same 2 innings.

Rizzler supports both pitch count and innings-based rules. Set your league format and the correct tracking applies.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do warm-up pitches count toward the pitch count?

No. Warm-up pitches on the mound between innings are not counted. Only pitches delivered to batters during live play count toward the daily limit.

What happens if my pitcher exceeds the limit?

If a pitcher reaches the daily maximum mid-batter, they're allowed to finish that batter. After that, they must be removed from the mound. Exceeding the limit is a rule violation that can result in a protest and a forfeit.

How do I know if my pitcher is eligible for today's game?

Rizzler shows each pitcher's current eligibility status in the game planning view. If a pitcher still has rest days remaining from a previous game, they're flagged as unavailable.

Do pitch counts from practice and bullpen sessions count?

No. League pitch count rules apply only to games. However, heavy bullpen work between games adds fatigue that isn't captured in the official count. Factor it into your planning.

Pitch count is the foundation of arm safety. Track pitch counts with Rizzler → · What is a pitch count? → · Tournament pitching strategy →