Average Pitching Velocity by Age: The Complete Chart (8U to Pro)
A clear, sourced chart of average fastball velocity from 8U to the big leagues, and the one thing you have to understand before you read a single number.
The quick take
- These are population averages, not targets. Within any age, the spread is huge.
- Youth velocity tracks body size and physical maturity far more than age, so two sound 12-year-olds can differ by 15 mph.
- Average youth numbers run a bit high because most data comes from kids at showcases and academies.
- The MLB average four-seam fastball reached 94.5 mph in 2025 and has risen seven seasons in a row.
Average fastball velocity by age and level
Here is the consolidated picture, pulled from youth showcase data, college recruiting benchmarks, and MLB Statcast.
| Level | Average fastball | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 8U (age 8) | ~40 mph | Sparse data, wide spread |
| 9U (age 9) | ~44 mph | |
| 10U (age 10) | ~50 to 53 mph | |
| 11U (age 11) | ~50 to 55 mph | |
| 12U (age 12) | ~55 mph | Little League range 50 to 60 |
| 13U (age 13) | ~65 mph | Big jump as kids grow |
| 14U (age 14) | ~70 mph | 75 is outstanding for the age |
| HS freshman | ~70 mph | |
| HS varsity (avg) | ~75 to 80 mph | Soft average, roster-dependent |
| College D3 / NAIA | ~80 to 85 mph | Recruited velocity |
| College D2 | ~84 to 88 mph | Recruited velocity |
| College D1 | ~88 to 95 mph | Average around 89 to 90 |
| MLB (2025) | 94.5 mph | Average four-seam fastball |
Why these numbers come with a giant asterisk
The most important thing on this page is not any single number. It is the size of the range hiding behind each one. Two healthy, mechanically sound 12 year olds can differ by 15 miles per hour for one reason: one has hit a growth spurt and the other has not. Velocity at young ages is mostly a story about height, weight, and how far along a kid is in puberty, none of which a child controls.
There is also a sampling quirk worth knowing. Most public average-by-age numbers are built from kids who attend showcases, academies, and radar-gunned events.[2] That group is more developed and more competitive than the average rec-league player, so these figures likely run a little high compared with a true all-kids average. If your child is below the number, that is not a verdict. It is a snapshot of where one kid sits on a very wide and very moveable curve.
How fast velocity actually climbs
The year-to-year jumps are real and they are mostly free, courtesy of growth. Developmental data suggests younger pitchers tend to add on the order of 5 miles per hour a year through the youngest ages, with the yearly gains tapering as they move through the mid-teens.[3] The takeaway for a parent: a 12 year old sitting at 50 is not behind, he is 12. Patience plus healthy development beats forcing velocity nearly every time.
What the top of the ladder looks like
94.5 mph
The average four-seam fastball across all of Major League Baseball in 2025, a number that has climbed for seven straight seasons.[5]
The hardest throwers in the majors now sit around 100 miles per hour on average, and the league has never thrown harder. That is worth a moment of perspective, because the same rise in velocity that thrills fans is part of what is driving the surge in elbow injuries, all the way down to youth baseball. Throwing hard is exciting. Throwing hard and staying healthy is the actual goal.
Common questions
How hard does the average 13 year old throw?+
Roughly 65 mph on average, with a wide range. Velocity at this age depends heavily on size and physical maturity, so plenty of healthy 13 year olds sit well above or below that, and most of the difference is growth, not effort.
What is the average high school pitcher's velocity?+
The typical varsity fastball averages around 75 to 80 mph, though it varies with roster age and level of competition. Elite showcase and draft-prospect high schoolers throw much harder, in the mid-80s to low-90s, but those are not the average.
What is the average MLB fastball velocity?+
The average four-seam fastball across MLB reached 94.5 mph in 2025, and it has increased for seven consecutive seasons. The hardest throwers now average around 100 mph.
Is my kid behind if he throws below these numbers?+
Not necessarily. These are averages across wide ranges, and youth velocity tracks body size and maturity more than age or effort. A pitcher below the average for his age is common and often catches up with growth. Focus on mechanics, arm care, and health rather than the number.
Sources
This article is reviewed against the research below. Where findings are debated, we say so in the text rather than overstating the certainty.
- 1.Professional Baseball Strength & Conditioning (PBSCCS). How Hard Should You Throw? (youth and high school velocity averages by age). PBSCCS. https://pbsccs.org/how-hard-should-you-throw/
- 2.Perfect Game USA velocity records and showcase data (population skews toward developed, competitive players). Perfect Game USA. https://www.perfectgame.org/
- 3.Driveline Baseball. Youth Baseball Player Development: Velocity Aging Curves (2021). Driveline Baseball. https://www.drivelinebaseball.com/2021/09/youth-baseball-player-development-velocity-aging-curves/
- 4.Rapsodo Baseball. College Pitching Averages and How to Reach Them (velocity by division). Rapsodo. https://rapsodo.com/blogs/baseball/college-pitching-averages-and-how-to-reach-them
- 5.MLB average four-seam fastball velocity, 2025 (94.5 mph), via Statcast; reported by FOX Sports. Live values at Baseball Savant. MLB Statcast / FOX Sports. https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/league?season=2025
This article is education, not a medical diagnosis, injury prediction, or treatment plan. If your pitcher has pain or you have concerns about an injury, consult a qualified sports medicine professional.