The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of 8 weeks medicine ball training on pitching performance and agility in baseball players. Fourteen baseball players aged 16~19 (Mean±SD=17.4±0.9) years were divided into medicine ball training group (MB group, n=7) and control group (C group, n=7). All subjects maintained the regular baseball training programs during the experimental period. The subjects of MB group had additional plyometric-medicine ball training 3 times per week. The throwing distance and pitching velocity of baseball as well as time of shuttle run for all subjects were tested before and after training. Independent t-tests and paired t-tests were used to compare the variables between and within groups. The results showed that: after 8 weeks training, the throwing distance for MB group were significantly higher than C group (84.9±6.1 vs. 74.6±5.0 m, p<.05). When compared the variables between pre- and post-training, the throwing distance and pitching velocity for MB group were significantly increased (75.8±10.5 vs. 84.9±6.1 m and 115.0±4.8 vs. 120.0±4.8 km/hr, respectively, p<.05). However, there were no differences on time of shuttle run for both two groups. It is concluded that medicine ball training program of this study is beneficial on pitching performance in baseball players but did not result in any improvement in agility.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of 8 weeks medicine ball training on pitching performance and agility in baseball players. Fourteen baseball players aged 16~19 (Mean±SD=17.4±0.9) years were divided into medicine ball training group (MB group, n=7) and control group (C group, n=7). All subjects maintained the regular baseball training programs during the experimental period. The subjects of MB group had additional plyometric-medicine ball training 3 times per week. The throwing distance and pitching velocity of baseball as well as time of shuttle run for all subjects were tested before and after training. Independent t-tests and paired t-tests were used to compare the variables between and within groups. The results showed that: after 8 weeks training, the throwing distance for MB group were significantly higher than C group (84.9±6.1 vs. 74.6±5.0 m, p<.05). When compared the variables between pre- and post-training, the throwing distance and pitching velocity for MB group were significantly increased (75.8±10.5 vs. 84.9±6.1 m and 115.0±4.8 vs. 120.0±4.8 km/hr, respectively, p<.05). However, there were no differences on time of shuttle run for both two groups. It is concluded that medicine ball training program of this study is beneficial on pitching performance in baseball players but did not result in any improvement in agility.