LSU Baseball Return to Play Throwing Progression

This throwing program is designed to gradually increase stress on your reconstructed elbow after surgery. The program will begin approximately 4 months after surgery, after your Team Physician has released you to begin throwing. For some, you may begin later and that is the Team Physician's decision. This program is only a guideline and should be modified if soreness increases or pain begins. This program is set-up to increase throwing volume in a structured way. As you increase distance, you will be increasing intensity. Do not try to throw as hard as you can. The goal is to throw the ball on a line. Continuing your arm care program of shoulder and elbow strengthening is vital to the success of your throwing program. It is important not to get ahead of schedule, and it is not uncommon to shut down from throwing at certain points in the throwing program. Your new ligament is getting used to the stress of throwing and you must be patient and disciplined to be successful. Remember, this is a process to get you back where you want to be.

Click these links for Theraband and Table Top Weights exercises.

Week 1
Day 1: Light toss at 30 feet for 5 minutes. Maintain an arc on each throw. Theraband exercises.
Day 2: OFF
Day 3: Light toss at 30 feet for 5 minutes. Maintain an arc on each throw. Weights exercises.
Day 4: OFF
Day 5: Light toss at 30 feet for 5 minutes. Maintain an arc on each throw. Theraband exercises.
Day 6: OFF
Day 7: OFF

Week 2
Day 1: Light toss at 40 feet for 7 minutes. Maintain an arc on each throw. Theraband exercises.
Day 2: OFF
Day 3: Light toss at 40 feet for 7 minutes. Maintain an arc on each throw. Weights exercises.
Day 4: OFF
Day 5: Light toss at 40 feet for 7 minutes. Maintain an arc on each throw. Theraband exercises.
Day 6: OFF
Day 7: OFF

Week 3
Day 1: Light toss at 45 feet for 7 minutes. Maintain an arc on each throw. Theraband exercises.
Day 2: OFF
Day 3: Light toss at 45 feet for 7 minutes. Maintain an arc on each throw. Weights exercises.
Day 4: OFF
Day 5: Light toss at 45 feet for 7 minutes. Maintain an arc on each throw. Theraband exercises.
Day 6: OFF
Day 7: OFF

Week 4
Day 1: Throw on a line at 45 feet for 2 sets of 25 throws. Theraband exercises.
Day 2: OFF
Day 3: Throw on a line at 45 feet for 2 sets of 25 throws. Weights exercises.
Day 4: OFF
Day 5: Throw on a line at 45 feet for 2 sets of 25 throws. Theraband exercises.
Day 6: OFF
Day 7: OFF

Week 5
Day 1: Throw on a line at 45 feet for 3 sets of 25 throws. Theraband exercises.
Day 2: OFF
Day 3: Throw on a line at 45 feet for 3 sets of 25 throws. Weights exercises.
Day 4: OFF
Day 5: Throw on a line at 45 feet for 3 sets of 25 throws. Theraband exercises.
Day 6: OFF
Day 7: OFF

Week 6
Day 1: Throw on a line at 60 feet for 2 sets of 25 throws. Theraband exercises.
Day 2: OFF
Day 3: Throw on a line at 60 feet for 2 sets of 25 throws. Weights exercises.
Day 4: OFF
Day 5: Throw on a line at 60 feet for 2 sets of 25 throws. Theraband exercises.
Day 6: OFF
Day 7: OFF

Week 7
Day 1: Throw on a line at 60 feet for 3 sets of 25 throws. Theraband exercises.
Day 2: OFF
Day 3: Throw on a line at 60 feet for 3 sets of 25 throws. Weights exercises.
Day 4: OFF
Day 5: Throw on a line at 60 feet for 3 sets of 25 throws. Theraband exercises.
Day 6: OFF
Day 7: OFF

Week 8
Day 1: Throw on a line at 75 feet for 2 sets of 25 throws. Theraband exercises.
Day 2: OFF
Day 3: Throw on a line at 75 feet for 2 sets of 25 throws. Weights exercises.
Day 4: OFF
Day 5: Throw on a line at 75 feet for 2 sets of 25 throws. Theraband exercises.
Day 6: OFF
Day 7: OFF

Week 9
Day 1: Throw on a line at 75 feet for 3 sets of 25 throws. Theraband exercises.
Day 2: OFF
Day 3: Throw on a line at 75 feet for 3 sets of 25 throws. Weights exercises.
Day 4: OFF
Day 5: Throw on a line at 75 feet for 3 sets of 25 throws. Theraband exercises.
Day 6: OFF
Day 7: OFF

Week 10
Day 1: Throw on a line at 90 feet for 2 sets of 20 throws. Theraband exercises.
Day 2: OFF
Day 3: Throw on a line at 90 feet for 2 sets of 20 throws. Weights exercises.
Day 4: OFF
Day 5: Throw on a line at 90 feet for 2 sets of 20 throws. Theraband exercises.
Day 6: OFF
Day 7: OFF

Week 11
Day 1: Throw on a line at 90 feet for 3 sets of 15 throws. Theraband exercises.
Day 2: OFF
Day 3: Throw on a line at 90 feet for 3 sets of 15 throws. Weights exercises.
Day 4: OFF
Day 5: Throw on a line at 90 feet for 3 sets of 15 throws. Theraband exercises.
Day 6: OFF
Day 7: OFF

Week 12
Day 1: Throw on a line at 105 feet for 2 sets of 15 throws. Theraband exercises.
Day 2: OFF
Day 3: Throw on a line at 105 feet for 2 sets of 15 throws. Weights exercises.
Day 4: OFF
Day 5: Throw on a line at 105 feet for 2 sets of 15 throws. Theraband exercises.
Day 6: OFF
Day 7: OFF

Week 13
Day 1: Throw on a line at 105 feet for 3 sets of 15 throws. Theraband exercises.
Day 2: OFF
Day 3: Throw on a line at 105 feet for 3 sets of 15 throws. Weights exercises.
Day 4: OFF
Day 5: Throw on a line at 105 feet for 3 sets of 15 throws. Theraband exercises.
Day 6: OFF
Day 7: OFF

Week 14
Day 1: Throw on a line at 120 feet for 2 sets of 15 throws. Theraband exercises.
Day 2: OFF
Day 3: Throw on a line at 120 feet for 2 sets of 15 throws. Weights exercises.
Day 4: OFF
Day 5: Throw on a line at 120 feet for 2 sets of 15 throws. Theraband exercises.
Day 6: OFF
Day 7: OFF

Week 15
Day 1: Throw on a line at 120 feet for 3 sets of 12 throws. Theraband exercises.
Day 2: OFF
Day 3: Throw on a line at 120 feet for 3 sets of 12 throws. Weights exercises.
Day 4: OFF
Day 5: Throw on a line at 120 feet for 3 sets of 12 throws. Theraband exercises.
Day 6: OFF
Day 7: OFF

Pitching Progression
Week 16
Day 1: Warm-up getting to 120 feet for a few throws then work back in to 60 feet for your flatground and throw 20-30 pitches to a catcher throwing fastballs and change-ups only in your flatground. Do some form of conditioning, preferably running, for 20 minutes.
Day 2: Off of throwing. Weights and Theraband exercises.
Day 3: Light throwing up to 90 feet for 10-15 throws.
Day 4: Warm-up getting to 120 feet for a few throws then work back in to 60 feet for your flatground and throw 25-35 pitches to a catcher throwing fastballs and change-ups only in your flatground. Do some form of conditioning, preferably running, for 20 minutes.
Day 5: Light throwing up to 90 feet for 10-15 throws.
Day 6: OFF
Day 7: OFF

Week 17
Day 1: Warm-up to 120 feet for a few throws then work back in to 60 feet for your flatground and throw 20-30 pitches to a catcher throwing fastball, change-ups, and spin 3-5 in your flatground. Do some form of conditioning, preferably running, for 20 minutes.
Day 2: Off of throwing. Weights and Theraband exercises.
Day 3: Light throwing up to 90 feet for 10-15 throws.
Day 4: Warm-up getting to 120 feet for a few throws then work back in to 60 feet for your flatground and throw 25-35 pitches to a catcher throwing fastball, change-ups, and spin 5-7 in your flatground. Do some form of conditioning, preferably running, for at least 20 minutes.
Day 5: Light throwing up to 90 feet for 10-15 throws.
Day 6: OFF
Day 7: OFF

Week 18: Bullpen
Day 1: Warm-up getting to 75-90 feet for a few throws. Throw 1-12 flatground with all your pitches. Bullpen- throw 30 pitches all fastball with 60-70% effort. Do some form of conditioning, preferably running, for 20 minutes.
Day 2: Off of throwing. Weights and Theraband exercises.
Day 3: Light throwing up to 90 feet for 10-15 throws.
Day 4: Warm-up getting to 75-90 feet for a few throws. Throw 10-12 pitches flatground with all your pitches. Bullpen- throw 30 pitches all fastball with 65-75% effort. Do some form of conditioning, preferably running, for 20 minutes.
Day 5: Light throwing up to 90 feet for 10-15 throws.
Day 6: OFF
Day 7: OFF

Week 19: Bullpen
Day 1: Warm-up getting to 75-90 feet for a few throws. Throw 12-15 pitch flatground with all your pitches. Bullpen- throw 35 pitches, fastballs and change-ups, with 70-80% effort. Do some form of conditioning, preferably running, for 20 minutes.
Day 2: Off of throwing. Weights and Theraband exercises.
Day 3: Light throwing up to 90 feet for 10-15 throws.
Day 4: Warm-up getting to 75-90 feet for a few throws. Throw 12-15 pitches flatground with all your pitches. Bullpen- throw 35 pitches, fastballs and change-ups, with 70-80% effort. Do some form of conditioning, preferably running, for 20 minutes.
Day 5: Light throwing up to 90 feet for 10-15 throws.
Day 6: OFF
Day 7: OFF

Week 20: Bullpen
Day 1: Warm-up getting to 75-90 feet for a few throws. Throw 12-15 pitches flatground with all your pitches. Bullpen- throw 40 pitches, fastballs and change-ups, with 80-90% effort. Do some form of conditioning, preferably running, for 20 minutes.
Day 2: Off of throwing. Weights and Theraband exercises.
Day 3: Light throwing up to 90 feet for 10-15 throws. Throw all of your pitches when working back to 60 feet for 20-25 throws. Do some form of conditioning, preferably running, for 20 minutes.
Day 4: Warm-up getting to 75-90 feet for a few throws. Throw 12-15 pitches flatground with all your pitches. Bullpen- throw 40 pitches, fastballs and change-ups, with 70-80% effort. Do some form of conditioning, preferably running, for 20 minutes.
Day 5: Light throwing up to 90 feet for 10-15 throws. Theraband exercises.
Day 6: Get to 120 feet for approximately 10-15 throws depending on how your arm feels.
Day 7: OFF

Weel 21: Bullpen/Batters
Day 1: Warm-up for bullpen. Throw 8 pitches off mound with all your pitches (pregame warm-up). Bullpen- throw 25 pitches using all pitches and 90-100% effort. Throw 15 pitches to a batter (someone standing in, not actually hitting). Throw fastball and change-up only. Do some form of conditioning, preferably running, for 20 minutes.
Day 2: Off of throwing. Weights and Theraband exercises.
Day 3: Light throwing up to 90 feet for 10-15 throws. Throw all your pithces when working back in to 60 feet for 20-25 throws. Do some form of conditioning, preferably running, for 20 minutes.
Day 4: Get to 120 feet for approximately 10-15 throws depending on how your arm feels.
Day 5: Warm-up for bullpen. Throw 8 pithces off the mound with all your pitches (pregame warm-up). Bullpen- throw 30 pitches using all pitches and 90-100% effort. Throw 20 pithces to a batter (someone stanfing in, not actually hitting). Throw fastballs and change-ups only. Do some form of conditioning, preferably running, for 20 minutes.
Day 6: OFF
Day 7: OFF

Week 22: Bullpen/Batters
Day 1: Warm-up for bullpen. Throw 8 pitches off mound with all your pitches (pregame warm-up). Bullpen- throw 25 pitches using all pitches and 90-100% effort. Throw 15 pitches to a batter (someone standing in, not actually hitting). Throw fastballs and change-ups only. Do some form of conditioning, preferably running, for 20 minutes.
Day 2: Off of throwing. Weights and Theraband exercises.
Day 3: Light throwing up to 90 feet for 10-15 throws. Throw all your pitches when working back in to 60 feet for 20-25 throws. Do some form of conditioning, preferably running, for 20 minutes.
Day 4: Get to 120 feet for approximately 10-15 throws depending on how your arm feels.
Day 5: Warm-up for bullpen. Throw 8 pithces off mound with all your pitches (pregame wamr-up). Bullpen- throw 30 pitches using all your pitches and 90-100% effort. Throw 20 pithces to a batter (someone standing in, not actually hitting). Throw fastballs and change-ups only. Do some form of conditioning, preferably running, for 20 minutes.
Day 6: OFF
Day 7: OFF

Week 23: Bullpen/Batters
Day 1: Warm-up for bullpen. Throw 8 pitches off mound with all your pitches (pregame warm-up). Bullpen- throw 35 pitches using all pitches and 90% effort. Throw 20 pitches to a batter (someone standing in, not actually hitting). Throw fastballs, change-ups, and 3 curveballs. Do some form of conditioning, preferably running, for 20 minutes.
Day 2: Off of throwing. Weights and Therabands exercises.
Day 3: Light throwing up to 90 feet for 10-15 throws. Throw all your pitches when working back in to 60 feet for 20-25 throws. Do some form of conditioning, preferably running, for 20 minutes.
Day 4: Get to 120 feet for approximately 10-15 throws depending on how your arm feels.
Day 5: Warm-up for bullpen. Throw 8 pitches with all your pitches (pregame warm-up). Bullpen- throw 40 pitches using all your pitches and 90% effort. Throw 20 pitches to a batter (someone standing in, not actually hitting). Throw all pitches. Do some form of conditioning, preferably running, for 20 minutes.
Day 6: OFF
Day 7: OFF

Week 24: Bullpen/Batters
Day 1: Warm-up for bullpen. Throw 8 pitches off mound with all your pitches (pregame warm-up). Bullpen- throw 25 pitches using all pitches and 90% effort. Throw 15 pitches to a batter (someone standing in, not actually hitting). Throw fastballs and change-ups only. Do some form of conditioning, preferably running, for 20 minutes.
Day 2: Off of throwing. Weights and Theraband exercises.
Day 3: Light throwing up to 90 feet for 10-15 throws. Throw all your pitches when working back in to 60 feet for 20-25 throws. Do some form of conditioning, preferably running, for 20 minutes.
Day 4: Get to 120 feet for approximately 10-15 throws depending on how your arm feels. Theraband exercises.
Day 5: Warm-up for bullpen. Throw 8 pitches off mound with all your pitches (pregame warm-up). Bullpen- throw 30 pitches using all your pitches and 90% effort. Throw 20 pitches to a batter (someone standing in, not actually hitting). Throw fastballs and change-ups only. Do some form of conditioning, preferably running, for 20 minutes.
Day 6: OFF
Day 7: OFF

Week 25: Simulated Game
Day 1: Warm-up for simulated game. Throw 8 pitches off mound with all your pitches then rest for 2-3 minnutes (pregame warm-up). Throw maximum of 40 pitches to batters who are hitting, Throw all your pitches. Do some form of conditioning, preferably running, for 20 minutes.
Day 2: Off of throwing. Weights and Theraband exercises.
Day 3: Light throwing up to 90 feet for 10-15 throws. Throw all your pitches when working back in to 60 feet for 20-25 throws. Do some form of conditioning, preferably running, for 20 minutes.
Day 4: Get to 120 feet for approximately 10-15 throws depending on how your arm feels.
Day 5: Warm-up for simluated game. Throw 8 pitches off mound with all your pitches then rest for 2-3 minutes (pregame warm-up). Throw maximum of 40 pitches to batters who are hitting. Throw all your pitches. Do some form of conditioning, preferably running, for 20 minutes.
Day 6: OFF
Day 7: OFF

**When you finish this stage you are ready to begin pitching in games with a pitch count of 40 throws. That number will increase 5-10 pitches per week pending the approval of your Team Physician and your Athletic Trainer or Physical Therapist.

Created by Beau Lowery, PT, ATC