It’s Alot More Than Just Pitch Count
Most coaches think managing workload means counting pitches—but that’s only a small piece of the puzzle. In this Sore to Soaring Podcast episode, Coach Leo Young and Dr. Jason Zaremski (UF Health Sports Medicine) explain what real workload is, why it matters, and how misunderstanding it leads to overuse injuries in youth baseball. Workload Isn’t Just Pitch Count: The Hidden Risk Behind Overuse Injuries in Baseball Workload management has become a buzzword in baseball—but most people have no clue what it really means. Pitch count is just a piece of the puzzle. Coach Leo Young and Dr. Jason Zaremski, MD, break down why relying on pitch limits alone is dangerously misleading—and how real workload includes everything from warm-up throws to how tired your legs are.
INJURY PREVENTION & PERFORMANCE BUILDING STRONGER ATHLETES
Coach Leo Young
5/21/20252 min read
Why Pitch Counts Are Not Enough
“Pitch count is part of workload, but it does not equal workload,” says Dr. Zaremski.
True workload includes:
– Warm-up pitches
– Bullpen throws
– Game pitches
– Defensive throws (especially for two-way players)
– Running volume
– Catching or playing another position
– Lower body fatigue, especially in the legs and glutes
This is especially important for multi-position players. “There are Division III athletes pitching and catching. That happens a lot. Even some of the best players in D1, like Jace LaViolette or Jack Caglianone, are playing both ways. That workload adds up fast,” says Dr. Z.
Do you think most coaches understand what “workload” really means—or are we still just counting pitches? Drop your answer in the video comments. We want to hear your take.
Lower Body Fatigue = Upper Body Risk
As your legs go, your arm pays the price.
When your glutes and lower half are shot, your ability to transfer power safely into your throw breaks down. That stress shifts to the elbow and forearm—where injuries often show up.
“If you don’t have that base, it doesn’t matter how much arm strength you’ve got,” Coach Leo says. “Your body’s going to find that torque somewhere—and usually, it’s the wrong place.”
The Workload Problem Starts Early
Most youth players are already overexposed by age 12–14.
They’re playing on multiple teams, rarely resting, and stacking “pitch counts” across unconnected games and coaches who don’t communicate.
“You’re not tracking warmups. You’re not factoring in catching between innings. That’s how you end up with kids in pain with no obvious cause—because the total workload was never actually managed,” says Dr. Z.
Key Takeaways for Coaches and Parents
✅ Pitch count is a piece—not the whole picture
✅ Two-way players carry more load than most coaches realize
✅ Lower body fatigue increases risk of upper body injury
✅ Cumulative volume matters—especially across multiple teams
✅ Workload must be tracked, not guessed
How Sore to Soaring Teaches Smarter Workload Management
At Sore to Soaring, we don’t just track innings—we track everything.
Our athletes are taught to understand and monitor their own workload across positions, practices, and recovery days. We help coaches and parents see the bigger picture—so they can protect arms, preserve performance, and prevent burnout.
Support our work at: www.SoreToSoaring.org
Disclaimer
The views shared in this article are for informational purposes only and do not represent an endorsement by Lupos Initiative Inc., DBA Sore to Soaring. Always consult a qualified professional before implementing any training, recovery, or medical plan. No affiliation or compensation exists between Sore to Soaring and any for-profit entity mentioned.
To learn more about Dr. Jason Zaremski and UF Health Sports Medicine, visit:
https://ufhealth.org
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