First-Pitch Strike
F-StrikeThe share of batters a pitcher throws a strike to on the first pitch, one of the most predictive simple numbers in youth pitching.
First-pitch strike percentage is the count of batters faced where pitch one was a strike, divided by total batters faced. It is simple to track by hand and it explains more about a youth pitcher's outings than almost anything else.
The reason is that the count dominates youth at-bats. After strike one the pitcher can work; after ball one they are throwing to a hitter who has been told to take, and walks are the dominant source of runs at most youth levels. A pitcher who improves nothing else over a winter but gets ahead more often will give up meaningfully fewer runs.
It also makes a good winter target because it is entirely within the pitcher's control and it is not a velocity measurement, which means it rewards the right things during the months when rewarding velocity is the last thing you want.
Bleacher Notes tracks the count through every at-bat as it is narrated, so first-pitch strike rate falls out of a scored season without anyone keeping a separate tally.
What is first-pitch strike percentage?
The share of batters faced where the pitcher threw a strike on the first pitch. It is one of the most predictive simple statistics in youth pitching, because walks drive most youth scoring.
What is a good first-pitch strike percentage?
Higher is better and the useful comparison is a pitcher against their own past rate rather than against a fixed benchmark, since the standard varies enormously by age and level.
Let the scorebook keep itself.
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