Baseball LabRules and arm safety
Pitch counts
and rest
Daily maximums
Daily maxima and rest requirements are keyed by LEAGUE AGE, not calendar age, and not by division. A 10-year-old playing up in Majors uses the 9-10 limit.
| League age | Maximum pitches |
|---|---|
| 6–8 | 50 |
| 9–10 | 75 |
| 11–12 | 85 |
| 13–16 | 95 |
6–8
- Maximum pitches
- 50
9–10
- Maximum pitches
- 75
11–12
- Maximum pitches
- 85
13–16
- Maximum pitches
- 95
Source
Regular Season Pitching Rules (Regulation VI)
Effective 2026-01-01 · Retrieved 2026-08-07
Required rest
Rest is counted in calendar days and is set by the number of pitches actually delivered — not by the limit. A pitcher who reaches the maximum mid-batter may finish that batter, and those extra pitches can push them into the next band.
League age 6–14
| Pitches thrown | Days of rest |
|---|---|
| 1–20 | 0 |
| 21–35 | 1 |
| 36–50 | 2 |
| 51–65 | 3 |
| 66 or more | 4 |
1–20
- Days of rest
- 0
21–35
- Days of rest
- 1
36–50
- Days of rest
- 2
51–65
- Days of rest
- 3
66 or more
- Days of rest
- 4
League age 15–16
| Pitches thrown | Days of rest |
|---|---|
| 1–30 | 0 |
| 31–45 | 1 |
| 46–60 | 2 |
| 61–75 | 3 |
| 76 or more | 4 |
1–30
- Days of rest
- 0
31–45
- Days of rest
- 1
46–60
- Days of rest
- 2
61–75
- Days of rest
- 3
76 or more
- Days of rest
- 4
Source
Regular Season Pitching Rules (Regulation VI)
Effective 2026-01-01 · Retrieved 2026-08-07
Rules that block a pitcher
These apply regardless of pitch count. The three-consecutive-days rule catches teams out most often — three days of a single pitch each is still a violation.
A player may never pitch on three consecutive days.
Applies regardless of pitch count. Even three days of a single pitch each is a violation.
Regulation VI(d) NOTE 1
A player who has caught in four or more innings in a game may not pitch that calendar day.
One pitch received in the fourth inning constitutes having caught four innings. Warm-up pitches do not count; only live-ball pitches accrue.
Regulation VI(a) Exception + Approved Ruling
A player who delivers 41 or more pitches may not play catcher for the remainder of that day.
Threshold exception: if the pitcher reaches 40 pitches while facing a batter, they may finish that batter and retain catcher eligibility, provided they are then moved or removed before delivering a pitch to another batter.
Regulation VI(c) NOTE
A player who caught three innings or fewer, then moved to pitcher and delivered 21 or more pitches (31 or more for ages 15-16), may not return to catcher that calendar day.
Threshold exception applies at 20 pitches (30 for 15-16) while facing a batter.
Regulation VI(a)
A pitcher once removed from the mound cannot return as a pitcher.
Regulation VI(b)
A player may not pitch in more than one game in a day.
Regulation VI(k)
A player who has attained league age 12 is not eligible to pitch in the Minor League.
Regulation VI(j)
How counts are read
A pitcher's count for rest purposes is determined by the first pitch thrown to a batter. A pitcher may not start a new batter once the daily limit has been met.
Practical effect: finishing a batter can push a pitcher into a higher rest band. 75 pitches becomes 80 while completing a batter, and the rest requirement is calculated on 80, not 75.
Regulation VI(d) NOTE 2
On reaching the daily limit while facing a batter, the pitcher may continue until the batter reaches base, is retired, the half-inning ends, or the pitcher is removed.
Regulation VI(c) Exception
Pitches thrown in Regulation Tie Games and Suspended Games are charged against eligibility. On resumption a pitcher may continue only if the required rest has been observed in the interval.
Regulation VI NOTES 2-3
Violation of any part of this regulation can result in protest of the game. The manager is responsible for removing an ineligible pitcher, regardless of whether the pitch count recorder or umpire gives notice.
Regulation VI(f), VI(g), VI(h)
Source
Regular Season Pitching Rules (Regulation VI)
Effective 2026-01-01 · Retrieved 2026-08-07
Pitch Smart, ages 7 to 22
These are guidelines of CUMULATIVE load and are explicitly NOT team-specific. Where Pitch Smart is stricter than a league regulation, the app surfaces both and defers to the stricter.
| Age | Daily max | Rest thresholds |
|---|---|---|
| 7–8 | 50 | 20→0d, 35→1d, 50→2d |
| 9–10 | 75 | 20→0d, 35→1d, 50→2d, 65→3d, 4d above |
| 11–12 | 85 | 20→0d, 35→1d, 50→2d, 65→3d, 4d above |
| 13–14 | 95 | 20→0d, 35→1d, 50→2d, 65→3d, 4d above |
| 15–16 | 95 | 30→0d, 45→1d, 60→2d, 75→3d, 4d above |
| 17–18 | 105 | 30→0d, 45→1d, 60→2d, 80→3d, 4d above |
| 19–22 | 120 | 30→0d, 45→1d, 60→2d, 80→3d, 105→4d, 5d above |
7–8
- Daily max
- 50
- Rest thresholds
- 20→0d, 35→1d, 50→2d
9–10
- Daily max
- 75
- Rest thresholds
- 20→0d, 35→1d, 50→2d, 65→3d, 4d above
11–12
- Daily max
- 85
- Rest thresholds
- 20→0d, 35→1d, 50→2d, 65→3d, 4d above
13–14
- Daily max
- 95
- Rest thresholds
- 20→0d, 35→1d, 50→2d, 65→3d, 4d above
15–16
- Daily max
- 95
- Rest thresholds
- 30→0d, 45→1d, 60→2d, 75→3d, 4d above
17–18
- Daily max
- 105
- Rest thresholds
- 30→0d, 45→1d, 60→2d, 80→3d, 4d above
19–22
- Daily max
- 120
- Rest thresholds
- 30→0d, 45→1d, 60→2d, 80→3d, 105→4d, 5d above
Innings in a year
A rolling twelve months, across every team. This is the number that gets missed when a kid plays travel ball on top of a league season.
| Age | Innings per 12 months |
|---|---|
| 7–8 | 60 |
| 9–12 | 80 |
| 13–22 | 100 |
7–8
- Innings per 12 months
- 60
9–12
- Innings per 12 months
- 80
13–22
- Innings per 12 months
- 100
Workload guidance
Take at least four months off from throwing every year, with at least two to three of those months continuous.
On days pitched, avoid playing catcher while not pitching.
Avoid playing for multiple teams at the same time.
Pitchers should avoid pitching in multiple games on the same day.
Under age 12, throw only fastballs and change-ups. Breaking balls may be added at 12-14 once fastball and change-up mechanics are well developed.
Refrain from weighted-ball throwing programs at ages 12-14. Use with caution at 14 and above.
Source
Pitch Smart guidelines, as reproduced in the USA Baseball Long-Term Athlete Development Plan · USA Baseball, supported by Major League Baseball
Effective 2026-01-01 · Retrieved 2026-08-07
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