Original Article: PDF OnlyThe Effect of an Upper Body Strength Program on Intercollegiate Baseball Throwing VelocityLachowetz, Tony; Evon, John; Pastiglione, Jamie Author Information Department of Movement Sciences, Springfield College, Springfield, Massachusetts 01109. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research 12(2):p 116-119, May 1998. Free Abstract Twenty-two college baseball players participated in a study designed to examine the effect of upper body strength training on the velocity of a thrown baseball. The treatment group received 8 weeks of strength training while the control group received no training during the fall portion of the preseason. Throwing velocity was measured for 19 players using a radar gun. Differences in mean throwing velocity were calculated for both groups, and overall significance (p < 0.05) for the interaction of group means was found. Post hoc analysis showed a significantly higher mean throwing velocity for the training group following 8 weeks of strength training. The implication is that college baseball players can improve throwing velocity via a structured strength training program. © 1998 National Strength and Conditioning Association