SECTION I - KINESIOLOGY / RESEARCH PAPER
Countermovement Jump Analysis as a Predictor of Overhead Pitching Velocity in Adolescent Baseball Pitchers
,
 
 
 
More details
Hide details
1
Department of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan.
 
 
Submission date: 2025-02-21
 
 
Final revision date: 2025-04-14
 
 
Acceptance date: 2025-10-06
 
 
Online publication date: 2025-11-19
 
 
Corresponding author
Heng-Ju Lee   

Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, National Taiwan Normal University, Taiwan
 
 
 
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Lower limb strength is crucial in pitching, as force output correlates positively with pitching velocity. The countermovement jump (CMJ) is a common test for assessing lower limb strength, and previous research has hinted at its potential to predict performance in adult baseball players. However, further research is warranted concerning adolescent players. This study investigated the relationship between CMJ lower limb power and fastball velocity in adolescent baseball pitchers. Thirty-two adolescent male baseball pitchers from junior high school baseball teams executed three CMJs and threw five fastballs from a custom-made pitching mound. A Kistler force plate (2500 Hz) recorded ground reaction forces (GRFs) during the CMJ, and a pocket radar gun measured ball velocity. The Pearson correlation coefficient assessed the relationship between CMJ variables and ball speed. A stepwise-forward multiple regression model determined the contribution of CMJ variables to predicting fastball velocity in adolescent baseball pitchers. The CMJ variables (braking force, peak force, braking rate of force development, braking impulse, propulsive impulse, peak power, rate of power development, and leg stiffness) correlated positively with ball velocity. The regression analysis revealed that absolute braking force and body height explained 43.3% of the variance in velocity. In conclusion, adolescent pitchers with higher absolute braking force during the CMJ and greater body height are likely to achieve higher fastball velocity. Lower limb strength, assessed via CMJ tests, may aid in predicting adolescent pitchers' performance. These findings emphasize the importance of lower limb strength for pitching velocity and provide guidance to coaches for developing training programs to enhance adolescent players’ fastball velocity.
REFERENCES (44)
1.
Aguinaldo, A., & Escamilla, R. (2019). Segmental power analysis of sequential body motion and elbow valgus loading during baseball pitching: Comparison between professional and high school baseball players. Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine, 7(2), 2325967119827924. https://doi.org/10.1177/232596....
 
2.
Aguinaldo, A. L., Buttermore, J., & Chambers, H. (2007). Effects of upper trunk rotation on shoulder joint torque among baseball pitchers of various levels. Journal of Applied Biomechanics, 23(1), 42–51. https://doi.org/10.1123/jab.23....
 
3.
Beunen, G., & Malina, R. M. (1988). Growth and physical performance relative to the timing of the adolescent spurt. Exercise and Sport Sciences Reviews, 16(1), 503–540.
 
4.
Bullock, G. S., Thigpen, C. A., Noonan, T. K., Kissenberth, M. J., & Shanley, E. (2022). Initial kinematic chain injuries increase hazard of subsequent arm injuries in professional baseball pitchers. Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery, 31(9), 1773–1781. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jse.....
 
5.
Campbell, B. M., Stodden, D. F., & Nixon, M. K. (2010). Lower extremity muscle activation during baseball pitching. Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 24(4), 964–971. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b....
 
6.
Chu, S. K., Jayabalan, P., Kibler, W. B., & Press, J. (2016). The kinetic chain revisited: New concepts on throwing mechanics and injury. PM&R, 8(3), S69–S77. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmrj....
 
7.
Claudino, J. G., Cronin, J., Mezêncio, B., McMaster, D. T., McGuigan, M., Tricoli, V., Amadio, A. C., & Serrão, J. C. (2017). The countermovement jump to monitor neuromuscular status: A meta-analysis. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 20(4), 397–402. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsam....
 
8.
Deal, M. J., Richey, B. P., Pumilia, C. A., Zeini, I. M., Wolf, C., Furman, T., & Osbahr, D. C. (2020). Regional interdependence and the role of the lower body in elbow injury in baseball players: A systematic review. American Journal of Sports Medicine, 48(14), 3652–3660. https://doi.org/10.1177/036354....
 
9.
Guido, J. A. J., & Werner, S. L. (2012). Lower-extremity ground reaction forces in collegiate baseball pitchers. Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 26(7), 1782–2785. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b....
 
10.
Hoffman, J. R., Vazquez, J., Pichardo, N., & Tenenbaum, G. (2009). Anthropometric and performance comparisons in professional baseball players. Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 23(8), 2173–2178. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b....
 
11.
Howenstein, J., Kipp, K., & Sabick, M. (2020). Peak horizontal ground reaction forces and impulse correlate with segmental energy flow in youth baseball pitchers. Journal of Biomechanics, 108, 109909. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbio....
 
12.
Howenstein, J., Kipp, K., & Sabick, M. B. (2019). Energy flow analysis to investigate youth pitching velocity and efficiency. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 51(3), 523–531. https://doi.org/10.1249/MSS.00....
 
13.
Huang, J. H., Chen, S.-H., & Chiu, C. H. (2022). Correlation of pitching velocity with anthropometric measurements for adult male baseball pitchers in tryout settings. PLOS ONE, 17(3), e0265525. https://doi.org/10.1371/journa....
 
14.
Kageyama, M., Sugiyama, T., Takai, Y., Kanehisa, H., & Maeda, A. (2014). Kinematic and kinetic profiles of trunk and lower limbs during baseball pitching in collegiate pitchers. Journal of Sports Science & Medicine, 13(4), 742–750.
 
15.
Kibler, W. B., & Sciascia, A. (2004). Kinetic chain contributions to elbow function and dysfunction in sports. Clinics in Sports Medicine, 23(4), 545–552. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.csm.....
 
16.
Kibler, W. B., Wilkes, T., & Sciascia, A. (2013). Mechanics and pathomechanics in the overhead athlete. Clinics in Sports Medicine, 32(4), 637–651. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.csm.....
 
17.
Lehman, G., Drinkwater, E. J., & Behm, D. G. (2013). Correlation of throwing velocity to the results of lower-body field tests in male college baseball players. Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 27(4), 902–908. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b....
 
18.
Lintner, D., Noonan, T. J., & Kibler, W. B. (2008). Injury patterns and biomechanics of the athlete’s shoulder. Clinics in Sports Medicine, 27(4), 527–551. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.csm.....
 
19.
Lis, R., Szymanski, D. J., Qiao, M., & Crotin, R. L. (2023). Exploratory investigation into the impact of bilateral and unilateral jump characteristics on ground reaction force applications in baseball pitching. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 37(9), 1852-1859. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.00....
 
20.
MacWilliams, B. A., Choi, T., Perezous, M. K., Chao, E. Y. S., & McFarland, E. G. (1998). Characteristic ground-reaction forces in baseball pitching. American Journal of Sports Medicine, 26(1), 66–71. https://doi.org/10.1177/036354....
 
21.
Mangine, G. T., Hoffman, J. R., Fragala, M. S., Vazquez, J., Krause, M. C., Gillett, J., & Pichardo, N. (2013a). Effect of age on anthropometric and physical performance measures in professional baseball players. Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 27(2), 375–381. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b....
 
22.
Mangine, G. T., Hoffman, J. R., Vazquez, J., Pichardo, N., Fragala, M. S., & Stout, J. R. (2013b). Predictors of fielding performance in professional baseball players. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 8(5), 510–516. https://doi.org/10.1123/ijspp.....
 
23.
Manzi, J. E., Dowling, B., Wang, Z., Kunze, K. N., Estrada, J., Fu, M. C., McElheny, K. L., Carr, J. B., & Dines, J. S. (2021). Association of pitch timing and throwing arm kinetics in high school and professional pitchers. American Journal of Sports Medicine, 49(12), 3386–3394. https://doi.org/10.1177/036354....
 
24.
Manzi, J. E., Yu, J. S., Sudah, S. Y., Wishman, M., Quan, T., Koo, A., Kunze, K. N., Kew, M., Carr, J. B., Fu, M., & Dines, J. S. (2023). A systematic review of lower-body kinematic and strength factors associated with pitch velocity in adult baseball pitchers. Journal of Sport Rehabilitation, 32(4), 440–448. https://doi.org/10.1123/jsr.20....
 
25.
Markovic, G., Dizdar, D., Jukic, I., & Cardinale, M. (2004). Reliability and factorial validity of squat and countermovement jump tests. Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 18(3), 551 –555. https://doi.org/10.1519/001242....
 
26.
Matsuo, T., Escamilla, R. F., Fleisig, G. S., Barrentine, S. W., & Andrews, J. R. (2001). Comparison of kinematic and temporal parameters between different pitch velocity groups. Journal of Applied Biomechanics, 17(1), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1123/jab.17....
 
27.
Mayberry, J., Mullen, S., & Murayama, S. (2020). What can a jump tell us about elbow injuries in professional baseball pitchers? American Journal of Sports Medicine, 48(5), 1220–1225. https://doi.org/10.1177/036354....
 
28.
McNally, M. P., Borstad, J. D., Oñate, J. A., & Chaudhari, A. M. W. (2015). Stride leg ground reaction forces predict throwing velocity in adult recreational baseball pitchers. Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 29(10), 2708–2715. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.00....
 
29.
Moir, G., Button, C., Glaister, M., & Stone, M. H. (2004). Influence of familiarization on the reliability of vertical jump and acceleration sprinting performance in physically active men. Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 18(2), 276–280.
 
30.
Nakata, H., Nagami, T., Higuchi, T., Sakamoto, K., & Kanosue, K. (2013). Relationship between performance variables and baseball ability in youth baseball players. Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 27(10), 2887–2897. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b....
 
31.
Nishiumi, D., & Hirose, N. (2024). Increasing braking and amortization forces during the countermovement jump does not necessarily improve jump height. Journal of Human Kinetics, 94, 65–75. https://doi.org/10.5114/jhk/19....
 
32.
Nuzzo, J. L., McBride, J. M., Cormie, P., & McCaulley, G. O. (2008). Relationship between countermovement jump performance and multijoint isometric and dynamic tests of strength. Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 22(3), 699–707. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b....
 
33.
Palmer, T., Uhl, T. L., Howell, D., Hewett, T. E., Viele, K., & Mattacola, C. G. (2015). Sport-specific training targeting the proximal segments and throwing velocity in collegiate throwing athletes. Journal of Athletic Training, 50(6), 567–577. https://doi.org/10.4085/1062-6....
 
34.
Perroni, F., Amatori, S., Corsi, L., Bensi, R., Guidetti, L., Baldari, C., Rocchi, M. B. L., Castagna, C., Gobbi, E., Sisti, D., & Buzzachera, C. F. (2024). Assessment of performance in youth soccer players: Should we consider the maturation status?. Journal of Human Kinetics, 93, 119–131. https://doi.org/10.5114/jhk/18....
 
35.
Philippaerts, R. M., Vaeyens, R., Janssens, M., Van Renterghem, B., Matthys, D., Craen, R., Bourgois, J., Vrijens, J., Beunen, G., & Malina, R. M. (2006). The relationship between peak height velocity and physical performance in youth soccer players. Journal of Sports Sciences, 24(3), 221–230. https://doi.org/10.1080/026404....
 
36.
Sakurai, M., Szymanski, D. J., Qiao, M., & Crotin, R. L. (2023). Combined countermovement jump testing and motion analysis as the future of performance assessment for baseball pitchers: A narrative review. Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 37(6), 1327–1338. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.00....
 
37.
Seroyer, S. T., Nho, S. J., Bach, B. R., Bush-Joseph, C. A., Nicholson, G. P., & Romeo, A. A. (2010). The kinetic chain in overhand pitching: Its potential role for performance enhancement and injury prevention. Sports Health, 2(2), 135–146. https://doi.org/10.1177/194173....
 
38.
Sgroi, T., Chalmers, P. N., Riff, A. J., Lesniak, M., Sayegh, E. T., Wimmer, M. A., Verma, N. N., Cole, B. J., & Romeo, A. A. (2015). Predictors of throwing velocity in youth and adolescent pitchers. Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery, 24(9), 1339–1345. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jse.....
 
39.
Suárez-Balsera, C., Ferioli, D., Marín-Cascales, E., Rago, V., Spyrou, K., Martínez-Serrano, A., Mauro, D. D., Marín, J. M., Alcaraz, P. E., & Freitas, T. T. (2025). Profiling the Countermovement Jump Characteristics of Basketball Players across Competitive Levels and Playing Positions. Journal of Human Kinetics, 96(Spec Issue), 83–95. https://doi.org/10.5114/jhk/19....
 
40.
Teske, L. G., Beck, E. C., Bullock, G. S., Nicholson, K. F., & Waterman, B. R. (2021). Lower extremity biomechanics predicts major league baseball player performance. Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine, 9(7), 23259671211015237. https://doi.org/10.1177/232596....
 
41.
Tremblay, M., Tétreau, C., Corbin-Berrigan, L.-A., & Descarreaux, M. (2022). Anthropometrics, athletic abilities and perceptual-cognitive skills associated with baseball pitching velocity in young athletes aged between 10 and 22 years old. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, 4, 822454. https://doi.org/10.3389/fspor.....
 
42.
Velez, A. E., Garcia-Roca, J. A., & Vaquero-Cristobal, R. (2025). What Variables Differentiate between Selected and Not Selected High-Performance Adolescent Track and Field Athletes?. Journal of Human Kinetics, 97, 263–280. https://doi.org/10.5114/jhk/19....
 
43.
Werner, S. L., Suri, M., Guido, J. A., Meister, K., & Jones, D. G. (2008). Relationships between ball velocity and throwing mechanics in collegiate baseball pitchers. Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery, 17(6), 905–908. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jse.....
 
44.
Wong, R., Laudner, K., Amonette, W., Vazquez, J., Evans, D., & Meister, K. (2023). Relationships between lower extremity power and fastball spin rate and ball velocity in professional baseball pitchers. Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 37(4), 823–828. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.00....
 
eISSN:1899-7562
ISSN:1640-5544
Journals System - logo
Scroll to top