Pitching Machines Used by Pros

 Ball throwing machines can range in price from hundreds to thousands of dollars, and most often you get what you pay for. Inexpensive machines may only be able to throw fastballs, while more expensive ones can often throw curves, sinkers and changeups. Machines designed for use at the highest levels can also throw pitches at speeds at or above 100 miles per hour.

The Casey Pro

The Casey Pro is the Official Training Machine of Major League Baseball, and for good reason. In addition to throwing fastballs and curveballs, it also throws knuckleballs and sliders at speeds ranging from 30 to 100 miles per hour. Furthermore, all of these parameters can be adjusted at the turn of a knob or two to simulate actual pitch sequences hitters will face during game situations. It also features a pitch selection chart to further ease adjustments.

The Casey Pro can be fed by the operator or by an automatic feeder, and can also be adjusted to throw fly balls, liners and grounders, pop-ups and catcher’s pop-ups, making it the most versatile machine on the market.

The Sports Tutor HomePlate

The HomePlate boasts a computer interface that takes hitting aid technology to a whole new level. The control center allows the user to program up to 64 specific pitches into the machine’s memory. Pitches can then be delivered individually with a single function, in fixed sequences or randomly for game simulation.

The HomePlate is automatically fed and only throws pitches. It cannot be adjusted to throw fly balls or grounders or pop-ups. Throw speeds range from 40 to 90 miles per hour.

The JUGS Combination Pitching Machine

While the Casey machine holds the status as the official machine of the pros, JUGS is the world’s leading producer of pitching machines. The JUGS Combo uses two spinning wheels — like the Casey — and can also be easily adjusted to throw assorted fly balls and grounders. It throws a variety of pitches and types of balls, and it throws pitches from speeds of 20 to 104 miles per hour.

The BATA-2

The BATA-2 is a two-wheel machine that — mechanically — functions similarly to the Casey and the JUGS. BATA claims their machine to be more accurate and easier to operate than the JUGS, predominantly because of the adjustment system — three independent pivot locks as opposed to the single ball-joint found on the JUGS — and Soft-Tread wheels, which they claim are ideal for throwing real baseballs.

The BATA-2 is compatible with automatic ball feeders and delivers pitches up to 104 miles per hour.