Understanding the Pitchout in Baseball

The pitchout is a very important tool in the game of baseball. Without the pitchout as an option, would be base stealers would run rampant on the bases. The pitchout is one of those baseball plays that often gets overlooked when coaching baseball. Understanding the pitchout begins with understanding its purpose.

The purpose of a pitchout is varied depending upon the situation. Most of the time, the pitchout is used to give the hind catcher a better chance at throwing out a base runner that is attempting to steal. It is also a good weapon to catch a base runner that is leaning too far off of a base after each pitch. You can use it to pick them off at the base, or get them into a run down play.

To execute a pitchout, the pitcher and catcher must have predetermined signals. This will ensure that everyone is on the same page. The pitcher also must keep the runner as close to the current base as possible. This is done by throwing over to the base that the runner is on every so often. It keeps the runner uncertain of what the pitcher is doing.

When the pitcher goes into their windup for the pitchout, they must throw the ball quickly to the plate high and outside. This way the catcher can raise out of their crouch and receive the ball in the perfect position to throw the base runner out. The best place for this is at chest level of the catcher. The catcher can then step and throw to the base they are aiming for with maximum power and speed.

Certainly the pitchout can be overused in the game of baseball. If you pitchout often, the base runners will become wise to it and simply not steal. This can be good and bad. It is good that you are preventing base runners from advancing, but it is bad because you are being charged with a ball each time you do it.

It is best to throw the pitchout when you are reasonably certain that the baserunner is stealing. You must also consider the count. If you are up 0-2 on a hitter, then you are less likely to be hurt by a pitchout. If you are instead down in the count 2-0, then the pitchout is quite risky.