How hard do college players throw across the field?
The middle D1 infield throw was 86 mph in high school, and the middle D1 outfield throw 89 mph. D2's were 81 and 84, and D3's 79 and 81.
Enter a throwing velocity. Compare with 15,772 infield and outfield throws by players who went straight from high school to 902 D1, D2 and D3 schools.
Updated
Among infield throws measured in junior summer, senior fall and senior spring, half of D1 threw 86 mph or harder, against 81 in D2 and 79 in D3.
2,190 readings shown
D1
651 readings
86mph
the middle reading
- Middle half
- 82 to 89
- 85 or harder
- 61%
- 75 or softer
- 3%
- Softest tenth
- 79 or softer
D2
563 readings
81mph
the middle reading
- Middle half
- 78 to 85
- 85 or harder
- 26%
- 75 or softer
- 13%
- Softest tenth
- 74 or softer
D3
976 readings
79mph
the middle reading
- Middle half
- 75 to 82
- 85 or harder
- 12%
- 75 or softer
- 27%
- Softest tenth
- 72 or softer
The spread
Where each division sat
One curve per division. The white tick is the middle reading, and the dashed line is the D1 middle carried down so the lower divisions can be read against it.
Clearing a number
How many threw at least this hard
Read up from a number to see what share of each division reached it. Type a reading to see where it would have landed.
RosterFit data
$20 a monthLook up the colleges behind the numbers
Subscribers get RosterFit's college school and player profiles: each program's roster, its division and conference, and the research behind its players.
Cancel any time. Sign in with the same email you use here.
Infield and outfield
Infield throws against outfield throws
Each bar runs from the lowest tenth to the highest tenth of that group, the block is the middle half and the white tick is the middle reading. This chart always shows both. An outfield throw has a run-up, so it reads harder.
By stage
The middle reading at each stage
The middle reading at each stage, whatever stages are picked above. In D1 it is 2.0 mph higher in senior spring than in junior summer. Each stage is a different set of players, so this is not one player's gain. A stage with fewer than 25 readings is left off.
About the data
What is counted
- A reading is counted when the player's college record shows him joining a D1, D2 or D3 school straight from high school and his profile carries an infield or outfield throwing velocity between 55 and 100 mph. Transfers in and junior-college arrivals are left out.
- Each player has at most one infield reading and one outfield reading: the ones our research kept, which favour the reading nearest his senior year.
- Showcases take these from players at every position, pitchers and catchers included, so an infield reading does not mean he played the infield.
- The stage comes from the date of the reading and his graduation year. A summer belongs to the grade just finished, so the summer before senior year is junior summer. A reading with no date keeps the stage the research gave it.
- A school's division is its division today. A school that moved up counts at its new level for every player.
- D1: 5,868 readings from 302 schools. D2: 3,705 readings from 245 schools. D3: 6,199 readings from 355 schools.
Rebuilt after research adds or changes profiles. Last built October 12, 2026.
College arm strength: common questions
How hard do D1 infielders throw?
- The middle D1 infield throw was 86 mph in high school, measured between the summer before senior year and senior spring. The middle half threw 82 to 89 mph, and about 61% of D1 infield throws reached 85 mph or harder.
How hard do D1 outfielders throw?
- The middle D1 outfield throw was 89 mph in high school, and the middle half threw 85 to 92 mph. About 42% of D1 outfield throws reached 90 mph or harder.
What arm strength do you need for D2 or D3 baseball?
- There is no cutoff. The middle D2 infield throw was 81 mph and the middle D2 outfield throw 84 mph. In D3 they were 79 and 81 mph.
Why do outfield throws read harder than infield throws?
- An outfield throw has a run-up and an infield throw usually does not, so the same arm reads harder from the outfield. Compare an infield velocity with infield throws and an outfield velocity with outfield throws.
Where do these numbers come from?
- Each player went straight from high school to one of 902 D1, D2 and D3 schools, and a public source, such as a showcase or recruiting profile, carries an infield or outfield throwing velocity for him. Showcases take these from players at every position, pitchers and catchers included. Each player has at most one infield and one outfield reading, the ones our research kept. Transfers and junior-college arrivals are left out. Counted on October 12, 2026.