Regular Season Pitching Rules – Baseball

VI – PITCHERS
(a) Any player on a regular season team may pitch. (NOTE: There is no limit to the number
of pitchers a team may use in a game.)
(b) A pitcher once removed from the mound cannot return as a pitcher. Junior, Senior, and Big League
Divisions only: A pitcher remaining in the game, but moving to a different position, can return as a
pitcher anytime in the remainder of the game, but only once per game.
(c) The manager must remove the pitcher when said pitcher reaches the limit for his/her age
group as noted below, but the pitcher may remain in the game at another position:
League Age

  • 1 7-18 105 pitches per day
  • 13 -16 95 pitches per day
  • 11 -12 85 pitches per day
  • 9-10 75 pitches per day
  • 7-8 50 pitches per day

Exception: Exception: If a pitcher reaches the limit imposed in Regulation VI (c) for
his/her league age while facing a batter, the pitcher may continue to pitch until any one
of the following conditions occurs:

1. That batter reaches base;

2. That batter is put out;
3. The third out is made to complete the half-inning.

Note 1: A pitcher who delivers 41
or more pitches in a game cannot play the position of catcher for the remainder of
that day.

(d) Pitchers league age 14 and under must adhere to the following rest requirements:
• If a player pitches 66 or more pitches in a day, four (4) calendar days of rest must
be observed.
• If a player pitches 51 – 65 pitches in a day, three (3) calendar days of rest must be
observed.
• If a player pitches 36 – 50 pitches in a day, two (2) calendar days of rest must be
observed.
• If a player pitches 21 – 35 pitches in a day, one (1) calendar days of rest must be
observed.
• If a player pitches 1-20 pitches in a day, no (0) calendar day of rest is required.

Pitchers league age 15-18 must adhere to the following rest requirements:
• If a player pitches 76 or more pitches in a day, four (4) calendar days of rest must
be observed.
• If a player pitches 61 – 75 pitches in a day, three (3) calendar days of rest must be
observed.
• If a player pitches 46 – 60 pitches in a day, two (2) calendar days of rest must be
observed.
• If a player pitches 31 -45 pitches in a day, one (1) calendar days of rest must be
observed.
• If a player pitches 1-30 pitches in a day, no (0) calendar day of rest is required.

(e) Each league must designate the scorekeeper or another game official as the official pitch
count recorder.
(f) The pitch count recorder must provide the current pitch count for any pitcher when
requested by either manager or any umpire. However, the manager is responsible for
knowing when his/her pitcher must be removed.
(g) The official pitch count recorder should inform the umpire-in-chief when a pitcher has
delivered his/her maximum limit of pitches for the game, as noted in Regulation VI (c).
The umpire-in-chief will inform the pitcher’s manager that the pitcher must be removed
in accordance with Regulation VI (c). However, the failure by the pitch count recorder to
notify the umpire-in-chief, and/or the failure of the umpire-in-chief to notify the manager,
does not relieve the manager of his/her responsibility to remove a pitcher when that pitcher
is no longer eligible.
(h) Violation of any section of this regulation can result in protest of the game in which it
occurs. Protest shall be made in accordance with Playing Rule 4.19.
(j) A player who has attained the league age of twelve (12) is not eligible to pitch in the Minor
League. (See Regulation V – Selection of Players)
(k) A player may not pitch in more than one game in a day. (Exception: In the Big League
Division, a player may be used as a pitcher in up to two games in a day.)

NOTES :
1. The withdrawal of an ineligible pitcher after that pitcher is announced, or after a
warm-up pitch is delivered, but before that player has pitched a ball to a batter, shall
not be considered a violation. Little League officials are urged to take precautions to
prevent protests. When a protest situation is imminent, the potential offender should
be notified immediately.
2. Pitches delivered in games declared “Regulation Tie Games” or “Suspended Games”
shall be charged against pitcher’s eligibility.
3. In suspended games resumed on another day, the pitchers of record at the time the
game was halted may continue to pitch to the extent of their eligibility for that day,
provided said pitcher has observed the required days of rest.

Example 1: A league age 12 pitcher delivers 70 pitches in a game on Monday when
the game is suspended. The game resumes on the following Thursday. The pitcher is
not eligible to pitch in the resumption of the game because he/she has not observed the
required days of rest.
Example 2: A league age 12 pitcher delivers 70 pitches in a game on Monday when the
game is suspended. The game resumes on Saturday. The pitcher is eligible to pitch up to
85 more pitches in the resumption of the game because he/she has observed the required
days of rest.
Example 3: A league age 12 pitcher delivers 70 pitches in a game on Monday when the
game is suspended. The game resumes two weeks later. The pitcher is eligible to pitch
up to 85 more pitches in the resumption of the game, provided he/she is eligible based
on his/her pitching record during the previous four days.
Note: The use of this regulation negates the concept of the “calendar week” with regard
to pitching eligibility