If you’ve been watching baseball, you may have noticed that commentators and other people in the know use a lot of jargon. In this article, we will introduce you to the meaning of LHP in baseball.
What Does LHP Mean in Baseball?
LHP stands for a left-handed pitcher. The letters L and H indicate the arm with which the pitcher throws the ball. The letter R indicates a right-handed pitcher, while L indicates a left-handed pitcher. A ‘P’ is added to both of these initials to indicate that they are pitchers.
The ‘LHP’ is a term used in baseball to describe a pitcher who throws with his left hand. Left-handed pitchers have an advantage over right-handed batters because most of the population is right-handed. This allows lefties to throw more pitches that are difficult for righties to hit. Some famous left-handed pitchers include Sandy Koufax, Clayton Kershaw, and Randy Johnson.
Benefits of Being an LHP
It’s no secret that left-handed pitchers are coveted in the MLB. Left-handed pitchers are known for their ability to throw a curveball, which is notoriously difficult for right-handed batters to hit. This makes left-handed pitchers especially valuable when a righty is up at-bat.
And why do lefties have such an advantage when throwing curveballs? Many baseball experts believe it’s because of how they face the batter. Some say that, since they’re facing away from the batter, they can keep the ball hidden until they release it, making it much more difficult for batters to predict its trajectory. Others argue that it’s because of their hands’ angle that creates more spin on the ball.
Regardless of why LHP’s have an advantage, you’d think that all players would want to be left-handed. But there are very few LHP in the league compared to RHP.
Challenges of Being an LHP
Being a left-handed pitcher is a special challenge, and it can be hard to find information about how to pitch successfully as an LHP.
Because of how pitchers face batters and baseball mechanics, LHP has to pitch more often than RHP. For recent reasons, many lefties are used as relief pitchers. The unique way an LHP throw makes it easier for batters to get hits off them. To avoid the potential for extra hits, you’ll want to train yourself not to throw too many fastballs and change-ups because these pitches are easier for batters to hit off of lefties.
Some Other Things You Should Consider:
- Make sure that your feet are pointing where you want the ball to go
- Think about throwing the ball at different speeds
- Watch your balance
- Keep your eye on the batter
- Keep practicing!
How Can LHP Pitchers Improve Their Game?
As a left-handed pitcher, it is important to know how to approach certain situations to perform well and consistently win games.
To have the best chance of success, you’ll want to be able to throw a variety of pitches. The more pitches you can use, the more difficult it will be for hitters to predict what you will do next.
This is often easier said than done because there are few left-handed pitchers in Major League Baseball (MLB). So they don’t all have access to the same training facilities as righties.
For starters, I recommend that you try throwing from different angles or positions on the mound to get used to throwing at different speeds and locations without having your mechanics change drastically. You’ll also want a practice routine where you throw each pitch before each game; if possible, this will help with consistency throughout the entire season!
You’ll also want a good catcher who will give feedback after each pitch about what went wrong or right so that adjustments can be made accordingly.
Conclusion
LHP pitchers are becoming more and more popular in the MLB. As technology continues to evolve, this trend will likely continue. This could lead to more teams using multiple LHP pitchers in their bullpen, giving them a competitive edge. Therefore, it will be interesting to see how teams adapt to stay competitive in the future.
- Related: How Long is a Softball Game?
