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Abstract

Caffeine is a commonly used ergogenic aid and has been shown to improve acute athletic performance, such as speed, strength, and endurance. However, research exploring the effects of chronic caffeine use on sporting performance is limited, especially in Division I (DI) collegiate baseball players.  PURPOSE: This is an observational study exploring the patterns of caffeine use among collegiate baseball players and analyzing how chronic caffeine intake affects specific measures of baseball performance. METHODS: A caffeine-focused food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was completed at the end of the season and indicated caffeine use over the final four weeks of the fall season. Weekly sporting performance data was obtained from baseball staff. This included weighted on-base average (wOBA), which is a commonly used metric to determine performance in baseball players. RESULTS: The caffeine FFQ indicated that there were 3 “low” and 3 “high” caffeine users among baseball pitchers (n = 6). Although significance was not obtained (p = 0.100), “high” caffeine use pitchers trended towards better performance on average compared to “low” caffeine use pitchers. CONCLUSION:  These findings show potential for chronic caffeine use to positively impact pitching performance among collegiate baseball players. Further research should explore this relationship in controlled supplemental intervention studies to confirm the current findings and determine the true impact of chronic caffeine use among collegiate baseball players on sporting performance.

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