Heater Big League Drop Toss Machine for Baseball Hitting Practice
The Heater Big League is a drop toss trainer that lets a baseball hitter work on swing mechanics and timing without a partner. It is not a pitching machine and does not throw pitches at the hitter. Instead, it drops a baseball in front of the hitter at a steady interval, recreating the drop toss drill a coach or parent would normally feed by hand. For players who want to groove a swing on their own, or parents who want their young player to get quality reps without being tied to tossing duty, the Big League fills a specific and useful role.
The 12-ball spiral auto feeder releases a ball every 8 seconds down a metal toss extension, giving the hitter time to set up, swing, and reset between drops. The Big League plugs into any standard 110V outlet with the included power adapter, and it is available with or without an 8 hour rechargeable battery for practice where no outlet is available.
What Drop Toss Trains (and What It Does Not)
Drop toss is a focused drill. Because the ball drops at a predictable spot, the hitter can isolate specific swing mechanics: timing the drop, staying back, driving through contact, and finishing the swing. What drop toss does not train is pitch recognition; the ball is not coming at the hitter with velocity and spin, so there is no tracking component.
Used with that understanding, drop toss is valuable. It is a standard drill for grooving swing path, hand position at contact, and repetition volume, and hitters at every level use toss drills to warm up because the predictability lets them focus on one mechanical element at a time. The Big League brings that drill home.
12-Ball Spiral Auto Feeder
The feeder holds up to 12 baseballs in a spiral and releases them one at a time every 8 seconds, a pace that keeps the drill moving while leaving time to reset between swings. A full load gives about a minute and a half of continuous work before reloading.
The metal toss extension guides each ball to the same drop point, so the hitter can predict the drop and practice contact with consistent timing. That consistency is what makes drop toss work as a mechanics drill and is the main thing a hand-fed toss struggles to match.
Works With Lite-Balls or Regulation Baseballs
The Big League handles regulation baseballs as well as lite-balls. For backyard or indoor use, lite-balls are the safer choice because mishit balls carry less. For field or cage use, regulation baseballs give a more realistic contact feel and sound. A family can switch between ball types as needed.
Big League Power Options: Plug In or 8 Hour Battery
Choose the version that matches where you practice:
- No Battery: runs from any standard 110V wall outlet using the included power adapter, the simple choice for garage, basement, and backyard use near power.
- With 8 Hour Battery: adds a 6V Crusher rechargeable battery that powers the Big League for up to 8 hours away from an outlet.
The Big League has a built-in compartment for the battery, and the battery recharges while the machine is plugged into a wall outlet. With battery power, the Big League goes to parks, fields, and practice areas without outlets, no generator or power station needed. If you start with the plug-in version, the same Crusher 6V rechargeable battery can be added later.
Sturdy Tubular Steel Stand, Lightweight Design
The tubular steel stand keeps the unit stable during use. A wobbling drop toss machine would change the drop location from ball to ball, which defeats the purpose. Combined with the lightweight design and metal construction, the Big League stays planted when it needs to and moves easily when practice shifts to a new spot.
Heater Big League Drop Toss Machine Specifications
- Ball feeder: 12-ball spiral auto feeder, releases a ball every 8 seconds
- Delivery: metal toss extension for a consistent drop location
- Ball compatibility: lite-balls or regulation baseballs
- Power: standard 110V outlet with included power adapter, or 6V Crusher rechargeable battery (up to 8 hours)
- Battery options: No Battery or With 8 Hour Battery
- Stand: tubular steel
- Construction: metal, built for durability
- Recommended ages: 6 years to adult
- Warranty: 1 year
What's Included
- Big League drop toss machine with 12-ball spiral auto feeder
- Metal toss extension
- Tubular steel stand
- Power adapter
- 6V Crusher 8 hour rechargeable battery (With 8 Hour Battery option only)
Baseballs are not included.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this a pitching machine?
No. The Big League is a drop toss machine. It drops balls for hitters to swing at, like a toss drill, and does not throw pitches with velocity. For a pitching machine, look at the BaseHit, Heater Jr., or Pro Curve.
Should I get the battery version?
If you will always practice near an outlet, the No Battery version covers you. If you want to take the Big League to a park, field, or anywhere without power, the With 8 Hour Battery version runs for up to 8 hours on a charge and recharges whenever the machine is plugged in.
What kind of drills is this good for?
Drop toss is ideal for swing-path work, grooving mechanics, contact-point training, and repetition volume. It is not a pitch-recognition trainer because the ball drops rather than travels toward the hitter.
How many swings per load?
Twelve balls at one drop every 8 seconds gives about a minute and a half of continuous work per load. Reloading is quick: refill the feeder and continue.
Do I need a batting cage?
Not strictly, but a net or backstop in front of the hitter is recommended, since even drop-toss contact can travel. For lite-ball work in the backyard, the Heater Home Run 12 Ft. Lite Ball Backyard Batting Cage is an affordable companion.
What age is appropriate?
The recommended range is 6 years to adult. Drop toss is especially useful for younger hitters building basic swing mechanics, and older hitters use it for warm-ups and mechanics work.
