Young pitchers usually get hit hard for a few reasons: they’re predictable (same pitch, same speed, same spot), they fall behind and have to groove one over the middle, or they’re tipping pitches or working at one speed the hitters have timed. At the youth level, some contact is fine and walks are worse. As hitters improve, the fix is changing speeds and locations and getting ahead, not nibbling at corners.
He throws strikes. He’s not walking anybody. And yet every inning seems to include a couple of line drives and a ball off the fence. It’s a different kind of frustrating than a pitcher who can’t find the zone, and the instinct to start “pitching around” hitters usually makes it worse.
Here is why young pitchers get hit hard, what’s normal, and what actually helps.
First, some contact is normal
At the youth level, a pitcher who throws strikes is going to give up some hits, and that’s fine. A hit is one base. A walk is a free base and a longer inning. Plenty of young pitchers who get hit around a bit are building exactly the right habit: attacking the zone. Don’t trade that for nibbling. The goal is to make contact weaker, not to avoid the strike zone.
Why hitters square him up
| Cause | What it looks like |
|---|---|
| Predictable | Same pitch, same speed, same spot |
| Falling behind | Has to groove one at 2-0 and 3-1 |
| One speed | No changeup, so hitters time him |
| Tipping | Hitters seem to know what’s coming |
| Fatigue | Gets hit harder as the game goes on |
Predictability is the biggest one. As hitters get older, a pitcher who throws fastball after fastball to the same spot gets timed quickly. Falling behind is next: at 2-0 or 3-1, he has to throw a strike, and the hitter knows it. Our guide on first-pitch strikes covers getting ahead. And if he gets hit harder late in games, it may be fatigue showing up.
“The fix for getting hit hard isn’t throwing fewer strikes. It’s throwing smarter ones.”
Change speeds, change locations, get ahead.What actually helps
Get ahead
Strike one changes the at-bat. A hitter who’s behind can’t sit on one pitch.
Change speeds
A changeup with the same arm speed as his fastball is the best tool for a young pitcher. Our guide on when to learn a changeup covers it.
Change locations
In and out, up and down, even just halves of the plate. Our guide on pitch sequencing shows how.
Hide the ball
Same delivery and glove position on every pitch, so nothing gives the pitch away.
One caution: getting hit hard isn’t a reason to rush a curveball onto a young arm. A commanded fastball and changeup will get far more outs, far more safely. Never trade a healthy arm for a number.
Sometimes the problem is in the delivery: a fastball that comes out flat and easy to see, or a motion that tips the changeup. A free evaluation breaks his mechanics down frame by frame and shows what hitters are seeing. Start his free evaluation.
The bottom line
Young pitchers get hit hard mostly because they’re predictable, they fall behind, or they work at one speed. Some contact is normal and much better than walks, so keep attacking the zone. As hitters improve, get ahead, add a changeup, move the ball around, and keep the delivery the same on every pitch. Compare him to himself: weaker contact over a season is real progress.
Common questions
Why does my son keep getting hit hard?
Usually because he’s predictable (same pitch, speed, and spot), he falls behind and has to throw one over the middle, or he only has one speed. Fatigue late in games and tipping pitches can also play a role.
Should my son stop throwing strikes if he’s getting hit?
No. At young ages, walks are worse than hits. The fix is throwing smarter strikes: getting ahead, changing speeds with a changeup, and moving the ball around the zone, not nibbling at corners.
Does a young pitcher need a curveball to stop getting hit?
No. A commanded fastball and a changeup thrown with the same arm speed get plenty of outs and are much safer for a young arm. Breaking balls are generally best saved for the mid-teens.
How do I know if my son is tipping his pitches?
If hitters seem to know what’s coming, look for differences in his delivery, glove, or grip between pitches. Filming him from the hitter’s view and comparing fastballs and changeups side by side often makes it obvious.
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