The purpose of this study is to provide descriptive and comparative information regarding the cardiorespiratory fitness of professional baseball pitchers. Twenty-four (
n = 24) major league (ML) baseball pitchers (starters
n = 14; relievers
n = 10) over seven seasons (2007–2013) were
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The purpose of this study is to provide descriptive and comparative information regarding the cardiorespiratory fitness of professional baseball pitchers. Twenty-four (
n = 24) major league (ML) baseball pitchers (starters
n = 14; relievers
n = 10) over seven seasons (2007–2013) were evaluated. A modified Bruce protocol and the CardioCoach™ CO
2 metabolic analyzer were used to estimate VO
2 max and anaerobic threshold (AT) at the beginning of each season. Performance data from each season was utilized to draw inference about pitching performance. One-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used to compare Starting (S) and Relief (R) pitchers above/below the group mean for VO
2 max and AT. Pearson product moment correlations were also used to examine relationships between cardiorespiratory fitness and performance. Significant differences in performance were discovered between S pitchers above/below the overall group mean for VO
2 max. (
p ≤ 0.05) and for AT in Walks plus Hits per Inning Pitched (WHIP) (
p ≤ 0.05) and Earned Run Average (ERA) (
p ≤ 0.05). Significant relationships between VO
2 max and Walks per 9 Innings (BB/9) (
p ≤ 0.05), Home Runs per 9 innings (HR/9) (
p ≤ 0.05), Wins (W) (
p ≤ 0.05), Fielding Independent Pitching (FIP) (
p ≤ 0.01), Strikeouts (K) (
p ≤ 0.01), Hits per 9 innings (H/9) (
p ≤ 0.01), Strikeouts per 9 innings (K/9) (
p ≤ 0.01), ERA (
p ≤ 0.01), and WHIP (
p ≤ 0.01). Low, but significant, correlations were discovered between AT and WHIP (
p ≤ 0.05) and ERA (≤0.05). CONCLUSION: Higher aerobic capacity appears to be more influential for S than R pitchers. Strength and conditioning practitioners should ensure that pitchers, especially S pitchers at the ML level, perform sufficient and appropriate endurance training to support pitching performance.
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