Pitch Smart Guidelines
MLB Pitch Smart and Little League set daily pitch limits and required rest days to protect young arms. The tables below show both, and you can tap an age to highlight your player's row.
MLB Pitch Smart
Daily maximums and required rest by age. Rest days are based on the number of pitches thrown in a single day.
| Age | Daily max | 0 days | 1 day | 2 days | 3 days | 4 days | 5 days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7–8 | 50 | 1–20 | 21–35 | 36–50 | — | — | — |
| 9–10 | 75 | 1–20 | 21–35 | 36–50 | 51–65 | 66+ | — |
| 11–12 | 85 | 1–20 | 21–35 | 36–50 | 51–65 | 66+ | — |
| 13–14 | 95 | 1–20 | 21–35 | 36–50 | 51–65 | 66+ | — |
| 15–16 | 95 | 1–30 | 31–45 | 46–60 | 61–75 | 76+ | — |
| 17–18 | 105 | 1–30 | 31–45 | 46–60 | 61–80 | 81+ | — |
| 19–22 | 120 | 1–30 | 31–45 | 46–60 | 61–80 | 81–105 | 106+ |
Numbers are pitches thrown in a single day. Tap an age to highlight its row.
Little League (regular season)
Little League's regular-season pitch-count regulations, aligned with Pitch Smart. League age is used rather than chronological age.
| League age | Daily max | 0 days | 1 day | 2 days | 3 days | 4 days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6–8 | 50 | 1–20 | 21–35 | 36–50 | 51–65 | 66+ |
| 9–10 | 75 | 1–20 | 21–35 | 36–50 | 51–65 | 66+ |
| 11–12 | 85 | 1–20 | 21–35 | 36–50 | 51–65 | 66+ |
| 13–14 | 95 | 1–20 | 21–35 | 36–50 | 51–65 | 66+ |
| 15–16 | 95 | 1–30 | 31–45 | 46–60 | 61–75 | 76+ |
Numbers are pitches thrown in a single day. Tap an age to highlight its row.
Pitch Smart health recommendations
- Do not pitch on three consecutive days, regardless of count.
- Do not pitch in multiple games on the same day.
- Avoid catching on the same day you pitch — the throwing load adds up.
- Do not exceed 60 (ages 7–8), 80 (ages 9–12), or 100 (ages 15–18) combined innings pitched in any 12-month period.
- Take at least 4 months off from competitive pitching each year (ages 19–22: at least 3 months).
Pitch Smart vs Little League
The pitch counts and rest tiers are essentially the same. The differences are in how the rules are enforced during a game:
- Finish the batter: Little League lets a pitcher who reaches the daily max mid–at-bat keep pitching until that batter reaches base, is put out, or the third out is recorded.
- Catcher restriction: a Little League player who catches four or more innings in a game may not pitch that calendar day.
- Age basis: Little League uses league age; Pitch Smart uses chronological age.
Track pitches during the game
Use the free Pitch Count Tracker on your phone to count live, get rest-tier warnings, and see each pitcher's next eligible date across the season.
Open the Pitch Count TrackerFrequently asked questions
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Sources
Last reviewed September 11, 2026. Rules and manufacturer charts change — verify against current official sources each season.