How to Throw an Eephus Pitch for Kids

The eephus pitch was invented by Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Luke Sewell. The pitch is a very slow pitch that has a high arc, like a lob. The art to throwing the pitch is that when it is thrown at the correct trajectory, it will actually cross the plate in the strike zone. The pitch is effective when batters have seen several fastballs and then are suddenly challenged with a pitch that appears like it is coming toward the plate in slow motion. Anxious to hit the baseball, many batters overswing, missing it entirely. Mixing the eephus pitch into a youth player's pitching rotation might prove effective if he has a solid fastball.

Instructions

    • 1

      Grip the baseball. The eephus baseball grip is designed to let the pitch float from your hand. Spread your index, middle and ring fingers evenly across the laces of the baseball. Your pinky finger and thumb are under the baseball with the baseball gently resting upon them, as opposed to actually gripping the ball.

    • 2

      Stand on the rubber in the windup position. Because the eephus pitch is so slow, avoid throwing it from the stretch position with other runners on base. Otherwise, they will easily steal. Toe the rubber with both feet on the pitcher's plate, facing the batter's box. Hold the baseball securely in your glove.

    • 3

      Go into your normal windup. The windup for the eephus pitch should be identical to the one you use for every other pitch so that batter cannot tell it is coming. Take a step back with your opposite foot from your pitching hand. If you are left-handed, this is your right foot. If your right-handed, this is your left foot. Raise both hands above your head, holding the ball securely in your glove. Turn your body perpendicular to the batter. If you are left-handed you will be facing first base, right-handed facing third base. Push off with your back foot as you plant your front foot so it is facing home plate

    • 4

      Release the baseball in an upward trajectory. This is where the eephus pitch differs from others you have thrown. Most pitches are thrown with the release of the baseball occurring as your palm is about to face downward. However, this pitch is thrown with your palm facing up toward the sky, in a lob-like motion.

    • 5

      Swing your back leg through and get ready to field the baseball. Unlike other pitches where you power through with your back leg ultimately landing in front of the leg you originally planted, the lack of momentum will cause your back leg to land about even with your plant leg. Bend slightly at the knees, with your glove hand palm up, ready to field the baseball. If the batter makes contact, he might hit it quite hard.

    • 6

      Repeat the process, focusing on getting the pitch in the strike zone. If you are in Little League, or playing on the Pony League diamond, the distances to home plate will differ as they are 46 feet and 54 feet respectively. If you are playing junior high or high school baseball, you will be playing on a regulation-sized diamond where the distance is 60 feet, 6 inches. The eephus pitch should hit the top of its arc just after it's halfway to the plate. Remember that the catcher is about 2 feet behind the plate, so add a little distance on the pitch so it crosses the strike zone and does not land in the dirt for the catcher. The strike zone will also vary based on the batter's height.