A major-league pitcher can throw a baseball in excess of 40.2 m/s. If a ball is thrown horizontally at this speed, how much will it drop by the time it reaches the catcher who is 17.7 m away from the point of release?

Answer 1

Time to reach catcher = T = 17.7/40.2 = 0.440 seconds

Amoount of drop = (1/2)*g*T^2 = 0.95 meter

The ball can drop even more if a "sinker" is thrown. This involves aerodynamic forces that are not considered here.