Why are Position Players So Bad at Pitching?

How many times have you seen a baseball game which is a total blowout and the manager of the losing team uses a position player to pitch the final innings? It has happened multiple times this season.

If you are like me, you have wondered why the outfielder or infielder who comes in the game to close out the last inning or two cannot pitch worth a damn. The same player who is capable of firing a strike from left field to homebase cannot muster more than a 50-mph floater when pitching? What gives?

We all understand why the manager does this. With the game totally out of hand, he wants to save the arms of his bullpen pitchers for games that they can win. In fact, this practice has been used for many years. But why can’t the first baseman come in and muster at least 90mph over the plate?

Ok sure, the position players rarely (if ever) practice hurling pitching over the plate. I get it. But they throw the ball a hundred times a day in other capacities. Hell, I’m not a baseball player but I can muster 70-80 and make my pitch look convincing when goofing around with my buddies at the park.

I’ve done some digging and have an explanation which makes sense.

Teams intentionally tell them to lob it slow

This is the biggest modern factor. Managers and trainers prioritize injury avoidance over competitiveness in a 10+ run game.

Throwing hard risks elbow/shoulder damage to a guy whose primary job is fielding and hitting. A torn UCL or rotator cuff on a utility infielder is a disaster. So, instructions are often: “Just get it over the plate, don’t max out, stay loose.” Slow, arcing “eephus-style” or changeup-like pitches are common because:

• They’re safer.
• Hitters’ timing gets messed up anyway (it’s like extreme slow-pitch softball).
• he game is already decided; no point in “competing” hard.

OK, so they don’t want their position player to throw out their arm either. Got it. But that still doesn’t explain why it looks like they’ve never thrown a baseball before when they get on the mound (LOL).

I guess it can be chalked up to being in an awkward situation and throwing in an unnatural way for them.