The Coastal Plain League, in conjunction with USA Baseball and MLB, has been approved as an official Pitch Smart compliant league for the current season and beyond.
“We’re excited to announce that the Coastal Plain League has taken the steps to be approved as a full-compliant organization for the Pitch Smart program,” said Justin Sellers, Coastal Plain League COO/Commissioner. “The Coastal Plain League and its member clubs are committed to helping develop players throughout each summer season in a safe environment. Being Pitch Smart compliant is another example of the steps the CPL is taking to ensure the best care for our pitchers before they return to their respective institutions or advance to the professional ranks.”
Pitch Smart was created as a means to help reduce arm injuries and provide a resource for safe pitching practices as players grow towards the professional ranks. While the organization notes baseball is a safe game for all ages, they have done research that shows how pitching too much at a young age can increase a pitcher’s risk of injury.
In accordance with the Pitch Smart Compliance program guidelines, the CPL and its member clubs will use a pitch count as the standard for setting pitcher use limitations for the 2018 summer season, including all regular season and exhibition games, as well as the All-Star Game and playoffs. In addition to the below rules, each CPL head coach, pitching coach, and team general manager must complete the Introduction to Pitch Smart course found at the USA Baseball Online Education Center.
1. A Pitcher must:
Throw no more than 105 pitches (if age 18 or younger) OR 120 pitches (if 19 or older) in any one day.
If a pitcher reaches the maximum limit of pitches in a game during a batter’s plate appearance, the pitcher may continue in the game until such plate appearance or the inning ends (i.e. by a third out made by catching a runner stealing), whichever comes first. This exemption in and of itself shall not constitute a violation of the pitcher use limitation rules.
2. Days of Rest Requirements (days off refer to the day(s) following an appearance):
Age 18:
Throw 1-30 pitches = 0 days off
Throw 31-45 pitches = 1 day off
Throw 46-60 pitches = 2 days off
Throw 61-75 pitches = 3 days off
Throw 76+ pitches = 4 days off
Age 19+:
Throw 1-30 pitches = 0 days off
Throw 31-45 pitches = 1 day off
Throw 46-60 pitches = 2 days off
Throw 61-80 pitches = 3 days off
Throw 81-105 pitches = 4 days off
Throw 106+ pitches = 5 days off
3. Penalty for Violation of Pitcher Use Limitation Rules
If a pitcher is found to have exceeded his allowed pitch count during a game, the head coach may be ejected for the remainder of that game. The illegal pitching situation will be rectified immediately and the incoming pitcher will be permitted as many warm up pitches as the umpire deems necessary prior to resuming the game.
The League Office will be notified and will review the infraction, and reserves the right to suspend the coach for an additional game or issue a fine to the head coach or pitching coach if the infraction is deemed a purposeful breech of the rules.
If a pitcher is found to have exceeded his allowed pitch count after a game, the manager may be suspended for the next game. The League Office will review the infraction and reserves the right to suspend the coach for the next game and one additional game or issue a fine to the head coach or pitching coach if the infraction is deemed a purposeful breech of the rules.
In either case, the pitcher in question will not receive any direct penalty, but will be made to adhere to prescribed pitch counts for the remainder of the season. Additionally, in either case, the team in question may receive an additional fine (beyond penalization of the head or pitching coach) subject to the League Commissioner; but will also be made to adhere to prescribed pitch counts for the remainder of the season.
Reporting
CPL official scorers will be responsible for the official pitch count of each pitcher. An aggregate report for all teams in the league will be distributed at the completion of each day’s games to the League Office. Discrepancies in pitch count totals must be brought to the League Commissioner no less than three (3) hours prior to a team’s next game for review. Final decisions on individual pitch counts will be made by the League Commissioner prior to the start of the team’s next game.
About Coastal Plain League
The Coastal Plain League is the nation’s premier summer collegiate baseball league. Heading into its 22nd season in 2018, the CPL features 16 franchises playing in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. To date, the CPL has had over 1,450 alumni drafted and 114 alums – including 2017 ALCS MVP, 2017 World Series champion, 2011 AL MVP and Cy Young award winner Justin Verlander, as well as 2017 NLCS MVP Chris Taylor – make their Major League debut. For more information on the Coastal Plain League, please visit the league website at www.coastalplain.com, and be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat @CPLBaseball.