I think it depends on your team’s level. Most A-level clubs are going to incorporate at least some live hitting into most practices.

OGX had an interesting X post on this recently - the tax on pitcher’s arms over winter when going to so many camps, plus balancing regular training and winter tournaments or games.

It’s a lot.

I think the best college programs understand the challenge faced at the HS level - there is hardly any time off and pitchers, in particular, often drag from season to season. They also spend the time going to see actual games in the summer season of the kids they are interested in to get a real feel for their in-game performance, behavior in the dugout and mental toughness.

At many of these camps, even Big Ten, you’re throwing off of football turf with a portable pitching rubber to a catcher you’ve never worked with. It doesn’t give you a great sense of the hitter or pitcher.