By: Owen O’Neill
1
There are different types of baseball positions that each player
is assigned. Even though the positions are separate, the body
systems all work together. The immune system doesn’t
necessarily work to perform the sport, but is an important piece
of the puzzle and must be maintained in order for the player to
keep up his strength and not get sick.
Respiratory
System
(Brings in
oxygen)
Nervous
System
(Tells the
body what to
do)
Muscular
System
(Lets our
body move)
Pitching
Fielding
Catching
Batting
Immune
System
(good health)
Digestive
System
(Breakdown
of food &
nutrients)
Circulatory
System
(Transports
nutrients &
gets rid of
waste)
Skeletal
System
(Our body’s
frame)
2




The job of the respiratory system is to bring oxygen
into your body, and remove the carbon dioxide from
your body. Your body needs oxygen to survive
When a pitcher throws the ball he breathes deeply to
try and calm himself before he throws it. These deep
breaths, help him inhale oxygen at a maximum level,
delivering oxygen to all parts of the body. This helps
him pitch at a better level and gets the ball to go
where he wants
When a batter breathes, he is able to have full
flexibility and be fully present, seeing the ball and
seeing the bat connect with the ball
When a fielder breathes, he is able to be fully aware
and focused with all of his attention in the moment,
and focused on catching the ball
3
 The
skeleton works very closely with the
muscular system to help us move. Without
the bones of our skeleton, we would be a
blob of water-filled tissues. Our bones create
a framework to which our muscles and
organs can connect
 The skeletal system helps baseball players
throw, catch run, walk, stand up, slide, etc…
The ball and socket in our hips and shoulders
helps us bend and un-bend our arms to catch
a ball, swing a bat or pitch a ball
4



The function of the digestive system is digestion and
absorption. Digestion is the breakdown of food into small
molecules, which are then absorbed into the body
What baseball players eat and drink is highly responsible
for their body's energy, performance, mood and overall
wellness. Essentially “we are what we eat.” Foods like
fruit, vegetables and complex carbohydrates are what
players need to be at the top of their game. Water is also
essential to keep them hydrated
Baseball players burn a lot of excess energy during
training. In turn they need to consume more calories than
the average person in order to replenish their bodies and
repair damaged muscles. Baseball players need to have a
strong digestive system to break down this food so that
they can absorb its nutrients within their bodies
5



The main function of the muscular system is movement.
Muscles are the only tissue in the body that has the ability
to contract and therefore move the other parts of the body
The shoulders, arms, back, legs and core are responsible
for the movements in baseball
In pitching:
The deltoids (primary muscles of the shoulder) allow your
shoulder to rotate back during the windup, and forward when
throwing the ball
 The triceps provide power when you are releasing the ball and
pushing it forward
 The lats (large fan-like muscles located on either side of your
back), help your body to stabilize during the throwing motion
while also providing power to the throw of the ball
 Your core (your abs, lower back, glutes, pelvis and hips) helps
you to remain stable when throwing a baseball

6
The nervous system is a collection of nerves and
cells known as neurons that transmit signals
between different parts of the body. It is
essentially the body’s electrical wiring
 The nervous system informs a baseball player’s
body how to react. So, it tells you to “swing the
bat” when the pitch is thrown or “catch the
ball” when you’re in the field. Neurons are firing
in your brain telling you to do all of the
necessary actions needed to play the sport

7
The circulatory system is responsible for
transporting materials throughout the entire
body. It transports nutrients, water, and oxygen
to your billions of body cells and carries away
wastes such as carbon dioxide that body cells
produce
 The main component of the circulatory system is
the heart and it is used to pump blood to all
areas of the body. When baseball players move,
their heart rate increases and it helps move the
blood throughout their body. This causes
adrenaline, which helps players run fast

8
 The
immune system is a system of biological
structures and processes within an organism
that protects against disease
 The immune system doesn’t help baseball
players, but baseball helps players immune
systems! The physical activity of baseball,
whether training or a game, helps make their
immune systems stronger and keeps them
from getting weak and sick. The stronger
their immune systems, the more games they
get to play
9
 Google
Search
 WebMd
 Google
Image
 Biology for Kids
10
THANK YOU &
GO BIRMINGHAM BREWERS!
11