The Relationship Between Physical Characteristics and Playing Time in NCAA Division Three Baseball Players

Abstract

This investigation sought to investigate whether age, anthropometric characteristics, and athleticism of NCAA D3 collegiate baseball players have an influence on the amount of playing time they receive. Over the two weeks prior to the start of the team’s championship season, 144 participants from three universities in the Great Lakes region of the Midwestern United States completed an assessment protocol consisting of standing and seated height, wingspan, weight, body composition, grip strength, countermovement vertical jumps on force plates, and 20yd sprints. Upon conclusion of their season, their yearend participation statistics were evaluated to determine whether they should be considered a starter or a backup. Independent samples t-tests were then performed to determine if statistically significant differences in performance were observed on the assessment protocols by starters and backups. Significance levels were set at p < 0.05. Overall, starters (21.5 ± 1.3years) were older than backups (20.3 ± 1.1), and performed better on all of the metrics related to performance on countermovement vertical jump. Starting pitchers were older and produced higher peak concentric power (5074 ± 708W) than their backups (4779 ± 584W). Starting hitters were also older than backups, in addition to being better than the backups on assessments of grip strength (109.4 ± 16.2KG versus 101.0 ± 20.1KG), and several metrics derived from the countermovement jumps. These results could be used by coaches in the talent evaluation and identification process to determine who is more likely to be a successful player.