Pitch Count Coming To High Schools

ROUND ROCK — On Sunday, the UIL medical advisory committee departed from its previous plans to make a clear pitch count recommendation. Previously, the committee recommended different pitch counts for players aged 14-16 than players aged 17-19.

On Sunday (Oct 2), it passed a recommendation that all high schoolers go under one pitch count rule. All high school players, no matter their age, are limited to 110 pitches in a game in the recommendation made by the committee. A restriction of a total of 110 pitches for each player in a postseason series. In the case of postponement of a game, and a team must play back-to-back, those games will be considered a series.

Junior high players will be limited to a total of 85 pitches. The home team of a match designates an official pitch counter for the game. The pitch counter will not be allowed in the dugout.

The UIL Legislative Council must pass the proposal, which meets in two weeks. In the 15 years that the medical advisory committee has existed, the legislative council passed every recommendation made. UIL athletic director Susan Elza said that the change came because of a National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) mandate this summer applying pitch counts this school year. Originally, the UIL planned to use the pitch counts as recommendations for the 2016-17 school year and make them mandatory the following year.

Its previous plan had pitchers aged 14-16 limited to 95 pitches while pitchers aged 17-19 were limited to 110 pitches in a game.
Here is the full pitch count recommendation, based on days of rest:

High School (Grades 9 through 12):

Junior High (Grades 7 and 8):