Hello and thank you for visiting Pitching Machine Reviews. In this article I will be discussing what I believe to be the top 5 pitching machines of 2021 for little leagues. These machines will be best suited for kids ages 6-12. All of the machines you will read about below are commercial grade machines and are great for machine pitch leagues and batting practice both on the field and in the cage.
All of the machines on the list are 1 wheel machines from a variety of different manufactures. I tried to include a variety of different price ranges so you should be able to find a machine that will fit your budget.
If you would like to skip to any of the machines, just click below and jump right to the machine review –
Table of Contents
- JUGS MVP Pitching Machine
- First Pitch Baseline Pitching Machine
- BSN Bulldog Pitching Machine (Economy Buy)
- ATEC M1 Pitching Machine
- JUGS BP1 Combination Pitching Machine
What to Look For When Purchasing a Pitching Machine
Before purchasing a machine, here are some of the top aspects you should look at before deciding which machine you are going to purchase.
- Of course, the most oblivious commodity you need to determine is your price range. Once you have narrowed down your budget, you can start looking at some of the finer details of individual machines.
- Second, the functionality of the machine. It is important to decide how you will be using your pitching machine. For example, if you need a machine for both baseball and softball, it would be important to purchase a combination machine. This will save you from having to buy two separate machines to accommodate both sports. The next thing I always make sure to look at is whether you would like to use the machine for fielding drills. As you will see in the reviews below, having a 360 swivel head will make practice defensive drills significantly easier and more effective.
- The Next thing to always look at when buying a machine will be the warranty. A pitching machine is an investment and any time you are making a larger purchase, you want to ensure that the product you are buying is going to last.
- Third, I always like to look at the ease of use. With a machine for little leagues, you want something that just about anyone can get behind and feed balls through. Luckily with one wheel machines, they are all pretty straight forward and easy to use.
- Last but not least is the safety of the machine. When using a Pitching Machine for machine pitch, you want a machine that will be safe for the kids to be around. You want a machine that will throw consistent strikes and keep the kids out of harm’s way. Luckily for you, I have already done the hard work and verified that every machine on this list is a top quality machine used by leagues all across the country!
How Each Machine Will Be Reviewed
I will be providing a brief description of each machine and a rough estimate of the price point. I will also outline all of key specifications of each machine so you won’t have to jump around from site to site to find all of the information. If I leave out any details, you can always leave a comment at the bottom of the page and I will be more than happy to help.
I will also be giving a Pro’s and Con’s chart of each machine so you can see what I like about each machine and what I think they could do better.
With all that being said, lets jump right into the reviews and start breaking down the top Pitching Machine of 2021 for little leagues.
The JUGS MVP Baseball/Softball Pitching Machine
It’s no surprise that the JUGS pitching Machine is the first machine on our list. JUGS has been around for over 50 years and they have been the frontrunner in the Pitching Machine industry. Chances are, if you have been around baseball or softball, you have come across a JUGS Pitching Machine.
The JUGS MVP Machine is one of the most purchased machine on the market. They created this machine as an entry level machine and is designed specifically for machine Pitch. They machine can throw anywhere from 20-60 MPH and features a digital readout display so you can set the pitch speed to be the same inning after inning. This machine costs right around $1000 and is known to for its excellent durability.
Keys Features of the JUGS MVP Machine:
- Throws both leather and dimpled balls
- Throws pitches anywhere from 20-60 mph
- Weighs only 56 pounds, making it super easy to move on and off the field
- Comes with a JUGS non-marking pneumatic tire
- Uses a standard 110v outlet
- Dial speed control with a digital readout display for accurate pitch speeds
- 1/4 horsepower motor (3 amps)
- Backed by a 5-year manufacture warranty
Pro’s and Con’s of the JUGS MVP Pitching Machine
Pro’s
- Combination Machine – can be used for baseball and softball
- Lightweight for maximum portability
- Only brand that offers a digital readout display for this level machine
- JUGS offers a lot of replacement parts
Con’s
- Not having a 360 swivel head does not make this machine the best for defensive drills
First Pitch Baseline Combination Pitching Machine
First Pitch is another top level brand on the market. They started making machines over 20 years ago in 1999. They wanted to create a high quality machine that wasn’t going to break the bank. As you can see from the picture, this machine looks a lot like the JUGS machine. Like the JUGS, it has the Pneumatic tire and the dial for speed control.
The first pitch Baseline is a combination machine and only takes a couple of minutes to switch from baseball to softball. Weighing in at just 55 pounds, this machine is super easy to take on and off the field in between games or from practices. The Baseline Pitching Machine retails for around $800.
The Baseline pitching machine has a variable speed up to 70 MPH. The numbered dial makes it easy to set a consistent speed for league use.
Where the baseline sets itself apart from the MVP Pitching machine is the 360 swivel design. For right around the same price point as the MVP, this machine will allow you to do both BP and defensive drills. You can set this machine up at home plate and easily throw grounders or pop flies to anywhere on the field.
With a stationary head like the MVP or the BSN Bulldog that I will be talking about next, you would have to reposition the entire machine if you wanted to throw to different sections of the field.
Key Features of the First Pitch Baseline
- Throws up to 70 MPH
- Pitches Both Leather and Dimpled Balls
- 360 Swivels Head Design – Great for On Field Defensive Drills
- Weighs only 56 Pounds
- 1/4 HP Motor
- Five Year Warranty for Teams, Leagues, schools and Residential use
Pro's and Con's of the First Pitch Baseline
Pro’s
- Easy to use Speed Dial
- Combination Machine – Baseball and Softball legs and Chute
- 360 Swivel Design is great for Defensive drills
- 5 year warranty
Con’s
- No Digital Readout Display
- 5-8 second recovery time when throwing pitches at higher speeds
BSN Sports Bulldog Baseball/Softball Pitching Machine
The BSN Bulldog Pitching Machine is on the list because it is a commercial grade machine at a very reasonable price. They have made a machine that will perform like any of the other machines on this list but at a fraction of the price.
What I like about this machine in particular that you don’t get with the machines with pneumatic tires is the enclosed wheel. The enclosed wheel serves two purposes:
- Protection for the machine if a player hits the ball directly back at it
- Protection for the players, it will keep any curious kids from touching the spinning wheel.
This machine is the most lightweight of any option at only 32 pounds making it the most portable on the list. Like the MVP is can throw pitches up to 60 MPH and uses the dial for setting pitch speed. It has an easy release lever to move the machine head up and down for adjusting pitch height.
Key Features of the Bulldog Pitching Machine
- Only 32 Pounds
- Enclosed Wheel
- Pitches between 30-60 MPH
- ¼ HP DC Motor
- Runs on 110 VAC or Generator
Pro's and Con's of the BSN Bulldog Pitching Machine
Pros’s
- Throw Leather and Dimpled Balls
- Enclosed Wheel
- Throws 11 and 12 inch Softballs
- Super Light Weight
- Urethane Wheel Eliminates Air Pressure issues
Con’s
- Only 1 year warranty
- No Digital readout
- No 360 swivel
- Expensive replacement wheel
ATEC M1 Baseball Pitching machine
The ATEC M1 Machine is on the more expensive side for 1 wheel machines. I decided to put this machine on the list because it is a step up from any of the machines I have already talked about but would still work just fine for a machine pitch league.
If you are going to be using this for more than just machine pitch or want a machine that will grow with the kids and also provide great practice for leagues tournament team, this machine is a great option.
Unlike the other machines on the list, this machine has the ability to not only throw fastballs, but also throw curveballs. While that is a little overkill for the younger kids, this is a pitch they will start to see with the old little league kids that will be heading into middle school.
The ATEC M1 Machine is a baseball of softball machine only so you will not have the luxury of being able to use this machine for both the boys and the girls. The reason for it only being one or the other is because they use a highly accurate concave wheel design. I like the concave wheel design because it cups the ball and shoots it out the exact same pitch after pitch.
The ATEC M1 Pitching Machine throws pitches up to 70 mph and also features the 360 swivel design making it a great machine for both Batting Practice and Defensive drills. If you are looking for a machine that is a step up from your most basic machine, this would be the machine I would recommend.
Key Features of the ATEC M1 Pitching Machine
- Concave wheel for accuracy
- Dial for setting speed
- Throws pitches from 30-70 MPH
- Pitches both leather and dimpled balls
- Weighs 75 pounds
- Throws fastballs and right and left handed curveballs
Pro's and Con's of the ATEC M1 Machine
Pro’s
- Throws real and dimpled balls
- Enclosed wheel
- 360 swivel design
- Throws fastballs and curveballs (left and right handed)
- 5 year limited warranty
Con’s
- Not a combination machine
- No digital readout display
- At 75 pounds it is the heaviest machine on the list
JUGS BP1 Baseball and Softball Pitching Machine
With JUGS being one of the most popular machines in the industry, it’s no surprise that I would have two of them on the top 10 list. You don’t hold the title for the #1 most used machines by little leagues without have a truly great product.
The BP1 Pitching Machine is the older brother to the MVP machine that we discussed at the beginning of this article. The main key difference between these two machines is the BP1 has the 360 swivel head, whereas the MVP does not. As I’ve said multiple times throughout this review, the 360 swivel head makes practice defensive drills much easier.
If you are looking to use your machine for more than just BP, I would highly recommend not purchases a machine with a fixed head. You will quickly realize that it is just not ideal for infield and outfield drills.
Why I like the BP1 Pitching Machine
The BP1 Machine like the MVP, have the digital readout display with the adjustment knob that will allow you to set the machine to exact speed you are looking for. It can throw pitched anywhere from 15-70 MPH and is known for its pinpoint accuracy. When using this machine in a league, you can expect that each pitch will be coming in nice and straight.
JUGS has also made this machine available for baseball only, softball only or a Combination machine. Unlike the MVP and some of the other machines above, if you know you are only going to be using it for either baseball or softball, you won’t have to pay for the other set of legs and chute that you won’t be using.
Top Features of the BP1 Combination Pitching Machine
- Digital Readout Display
- Throws 15-70 MPH
- Throws both Real and Dimpled Balls
- Weighs 75 Pounds
- Runs on 110-Volt AC or a Yamaha EF2000iS V2 Inverter Generator
- Throws both 11 or 12 inch softballs
Pro's and Con's of the JUGS BP1 Pitching Machine
Pro’s
- Digital Read Out
- 360 Swivel Design
- Special Non-Marking Pneumatic Tire
- Can be purchases as a baseball, softball, or a Combination machine
- Extremely Accurate – Easy to adjust pitch location
Con’s
- More expensive than some of the other 1-Wheel Options on the market
- Cannot throw Curveballs Like ATEC’s M1 Machine
Our Final Thoughts
That concludes the list of my top 5 Pitching Machines for Little League use. I believe that all of the machine here on this list would make for a great option for a machine pitch league. All of the machines above are made reputable manufactures and are commercial grade Pitching Machines.
I hope this article has been able to help you get a better understanding of some of the different features that each machine has to offer. Hopefully with some of the information above, you can ensure that you get a machine that will suite your league’s needs.
As always, if you have any further questions or comments about the different machines, you can leave a comment below and I will do my best to answer any questions you may have.