Relationship between ball release point variability and pitching performance in major league baseball

IntroductionThis study examined the relationship between ball release points and pitching performance among professional baseball pitchers, with a focus on variability.MethodsWe used open-source data to compare ball release point variability between Major League Baseball (MLB) and Minor League Baseb...

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Main Authors: Kazuki Wakamiya, Hideaki Nagamoto, Ryusei Yamaguchi, Takumi Okunuki, Toshihiro Maemichi, Zijian Liu, Yuki Ogawa, Yusuke Kobayashi, Tsukasa Kumai
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2024-11-01
Series:Frontiers in Sports and Active Living
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2024.1447665/full
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author Kazuki Wakamiya
Hideaki Nagamoto
Hideaki Nagamoto
Ryusei Yamaguchi
Takumi Okunuki
Takumi Okunuki
Toshihiro Maemichi
Zijian Liu
Yuki Ogawa
Yusuke Kobayashi
Tsukasa Kumai
author_facet Kazuki Wakamiya
Hideaki Nagamoto
Hideaki Nagamoto
Ryusei Yamaguchi
Takumi Okunuki
Takumi Okunuki
Toshihiro Maemichi
Zijian Liu
Yuki Ogawa
Yusuke Kobayashi
Tsukasa Kumai
author_sort Kazuki Wakamiya
collection DOAJ
description IntroductionThis study examined the relationship between ball release points and pitching performance among professional baseball pitchers, with a focus on variability.MethodsWe used open-source data to compare ball release point variability between Major League Baseball (MLB) and Minor League Baseball (MiLB) players. The relationship between pitching performance and variability was analyzed using multiple regression analysis.ResultsMLB players exhibited smaller ball release point variability compared to MiLB players. The analysis showed that pitching performance was strongly related to ball release point variability, especially in the horizontal direction on the coronal plane. Horizontal ball release point variability was most strongly related to strikeout ability among pitching performances.DiscussionThese results suggest that reducing horizontal ball release point variability may improve pitching performance, particularly by increasing strikeouts and reducing home runs allowed. This study provides a data-driven approach to understanding the mechanics of pitching and can be applied to the development of advanced training methods and technical solutions aimed at improving pitching performance in baseball players.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2624-9367
language English
publishDate 2024-11-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Sports and Active Living
spelling doaj-art-e1d2a7da3a5443ec8951419322bebf7c2024-11-18T04:22:44ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Sports and Active Living2624-93672024-11-01610.3389/fspor.2024.14476651447665Relationship between ball release point variability and pitching performance in major league baseballKazuki Wakamiya0Hideaki Nagamoto1Hideaki Nagamoto2Ryusei Yamaguchi3Takumi Okunuki4Takumi Okunuki5Toshihiro Maemichi6Zijian Liu7Yuki Ogawa8Yusuke Kobayashi9Tsukasa Kumai10Graduate School of Sport Sciences, Waseda University, Saitama, JapanInstitute for Sport Sciences, Waseda University, Saitama, JapanDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, School of Medicine, Tohoku University, Miyagi, JapanGraduate School of Sport Sciences, Waseda University, Saitama, JapanGraduate School of Sport Sciences, Waseda University, Saitama, JapanResearch Organization of Science and Technology, Ritsumeikan University/Research Fellow of Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Tokyo, JapanFaculty of Sport Sciences, Waseda University, Saitama, JapanGraduate School of Sport Sciences, Waseda University, Saitama, JapanGraduate School of Sport Sciences, Waseda University, Saitama, JapanGraduate School of Sport Sciences, Waseda University, Saitama, JapanFaculty of Sport Sciences, Waseda University, Saitama, JapanIntroductionThis study examined the relationship between ball release points and pitching performance among professional baseball pitchers, with a focus on variability.MethodsWe used open-source data to compare ball release point variability between Major League Baseball (MLB) and Minor League Baseball (MiLB) players. The relationship between pitching performance and variability was analyzed using multiple regression analysis.ResultsMLB players exhibited smaller ball release point variability compared to MiLB players. The analysis showed that pitching performance was strongly related to ball release point variability, especially in the horizontal direction on the coronal plane. Horizontal ball release point variability was most strongly related to strikeout ability among pitching performances.DiscussionThese results suggest that reducing horizontal ball release point variability may improve pitching performance, particularly by increasing strikeouts and reducing home runs allowed. This study provides a data-driven approach to understanding the mechanics of pitching and can be applied to the development of advanced training methods and technical solutions aimed at improving pitching performance in baseball players.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2024.1447665/fullbaseballmovement variabilitypitchingrelease pointtracking data
spellingShingle Kazuki Wakamiya
Hideaki Nagamoto
Hideaki Nagamoto
Ryusei Yamaguchi
Takumi Okunuki
Takumi Okunuki
Toshihiro Maemichi
Zijian Liu
Yuki Ogawa
Yusuke Kobayashi
Tsukasa Kumai
Relationship between ball release point variability and pitching performance in major league baseball
Frontiers in Sports and Active Living
baseball
movement variability
pitching
release point
tracking data
title Relationship between ball release point variability and pitching performance in major league baseball
title_full Relationship between ball release point variability and pitching performance in major league baseball
title_fullStr Relationship between ball release point variability and pitching performance in major league baseball
title_full_unstemmed Relationship between ball release point variability and pitching performance in major league baseball
title_short Relationship between ball release point variability and pitching performance in major league baseball
title_sort relationship between ball release point variability and pitching performance in major league baseball
topic baseball
movement variability
pitching
release point
tracking data
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2024.1447665/full
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