Baseball players have different items that they wear either for good luck or for performance.
One of the strange things you might see at a baseball game is a player wearing a long sleeve, but only one long sleeve.
Which leads you to question, why they only have one long sleeve that day.
Why Do Baseball Players Wear One Long Sleeve?
Oftentimes, a player might only wear one long sleeve if they are trying to keep their arm warm and loose as a pitcher or a player that is relying on making strong, fast throws that day. In order to prevent injury, you will see pitchers work hard to stay warm and loose between innings and while on the field.
Pitchers and Long Sleeves
In many climates across the United Stats, when Major League Baseball begins in April or ends in October, the weather is still very cold on some days. It is not uncommon for a professional game to take place in temperatures in the 30 degree range.
As a result, players must adjust and take different precautions to prevent injury and to perform at their highest potential day in and day out. The last thing a player wants is to sustain an injury that keeps them off the field, hurts future pay days and keeps them from helping their team.
Many injuries in baseball occur for pitchers with their throwing arm. At the end of the day, the throwing arm makes players their pay check and they must do everything possible to prevent injury and to ensure they are performing at the level of expectation.
Cold weather is something that most players do not look forward to. Most spring training camps take place in warm climates like Arizona or Florida. Pitchers and everyday players are leaving temperatures of 70 and 80 degrees and now have to play in temperatures between 30-50 degrees across most of the northern states in the United States.
As a result, you will see two long sleeves, one long sleeve and pitchers wearing jackets between innings.
Why do baseball players wear a hat?
Other Cold Weather Gear
You will see many jackets between innings and during warms. Other gear that players have turned to in recent years include neck gators and winter hats to keep their head and neck warm. Unlike sports like football where there is more movement when on the field, it is not uncommon for an infielder to not have to run a great deal while playing the field and there could go several minutes at a time without a ball hit in play.
You might also see heaters in dugouts and hand warmers used by players in the field and in the dugout. Many players might head into the clubhouse between innings to warm up, stay loose or to put additional gear on.
Of course batting gloves are almost essential to protect the hands on these really cold days!
Ultimately, players have to find their methods to perform at their highest potential, while staying injury free.
Why do baseball players wear eye black?
High School Baseball and Cold Weather
Players that have grown up playing in the midwest or anywhere above the middle portion of the United States have more than likely played in conditions that are far from ideal. It would be pretty typical for most high school players to play baseball anywhere between 30 degree weather and 90 degree weather during one season.
The 30 degree weather can take place in March/April and then summer leagues could have weather between 80, 90 and even 100 degrees.
Tips for Baseball Players
- Be Prepared
- Control Your Mindset
- Keep Your Energy Level Up
Why do baseball players wear batting gloves?
#1 Be Prepared
The number 1 key to playing in cold weather is to be prepared. Think of winter hats, neck gaiters, long sleeves, jackets and hand warmers. Being prepared gives you as much comfort as possible and helps your body stay warm and loose. If you play in cold weather conditions on a regular basis, stock up your bat bag with different key gear and items like hand warmers to make sure you are prepared for the coldest days.
#2 Control Your Mindset
Everyone is playing in the same conditions that day. If all you can think about is how cold it is, you aren’t going to perform at your highest levels. Work hard to be prepared both physically and mentall and be a good teammate. Encourage others and stay warm. Try to have fun with it and see how mentally tough you can be!
#3 Keep Your Energy Level Up
As soon as you lose the negery and let the cold weather get the better part of you, your performance is going to dip. Keep the energy up for you and your teammates and embrace the challenge and the cold weather.
Final Thoughts
Wearing one or two long sleeves is the most simple action you can take in cold weather or even in warmer weather as you loosen up. It is typical for many pitchers to start their warm up and build up a sweat and then try to stay warm before they actually take the mound. It could be 60 or 70 degrees and you could see a pitcher with a jacket on at least their throwing warm to say warm and loose and ready to perform!
They key is to be ready from pitch one and the first batter of the game. You don’t want to get off to a slow start because of the weather when you could have taken certain steps to increase your performance levels!
Many people love fall playoff baseball as the weather turns cold and a new challenging element is added to an already difficult game…cold weather. Be prepared, keep that mindset positive and be an energy addition to your team!
Embrace the challenge!
