Beginning Friday, May 23, the Los Angeles Dodgers visit the Big Apple to face the New York Mets for a rematch of last year’s NLCS. This series would feel even more electric if the reigning National League MVP Shohei Ohtani was able to take the mound. However, Ohtani tore his ulterior collateral ligament (UCL) in his pitching arm on August 23, 2023, pitching for the Los Angeles Angels, and hasn’t pitched since due to Tommy John surgery. Although the two-way star has wreaked havoc as a full-time designated hitter, most fans want to see him return to the mound soon.
Ohtani isn’t the only exciting but injured pitcher in MLB. Since 2021, more pitchers have been sidelined with various arm injuries than ever before. By the end of the 2023 season, over 35% of all pitchers, including those on the injured list, have had Tommy John surgery–the highest percentage in MLB history.
For many baseball fans, watching pitchers throw the ball 100 MPH is exciting and a strong determinant of a pitcher’s ability. What’s not so exciting is when a team’s best starting pitcher, its ace, or closer misses the whole season with a severe arm injury. Many severe arm injuries require elbow surgery known as Tommy John, which can sideline a pitcher anywhere from 12 to 18 months, and fully change a pitcher’s career. What is the ultimate cause, or causes, of the arm injuries?
Stats of hitters compared to velocity and break on fastballs (Source: MLB.com)
In 2024, MLB introduced the pitch clock, which establishes the window of time between pitches during which the pitcher must deliver the ball. Failing to pitch in the allotted time results in an automatic ball; the shortened rest between pitches may be an additional cause for the rise in arm injuries. MLB introduced the pitch clock to increase game attendance after fans began to complain that games were too slow. But is this quicker game time really worth the sacrifice of some of the league’s best and most exciting arms? To put it into perspective, the pitch clock is the equivalent of doing your maximum weight for one rep before having to do it again and again after only a few seconds of rest. The constant exertion of maximum force going into every pitch is why pitchers are less focused on stamina in baseball’s current era.
Often, injuries develop before players reach the big leagues. More kids are focusing exclusively in baseball at younger levels and playing year-round both nationally and internationally. This increase leads to overuse, especially if they’re pitching in more than one league or showcases with minimal time off. Dr. James Andrews, one of the most highly respected athletic surgeons who has performed on hundreds of professional athletes, says that he’s performing Tommy John surgery on youth baseball players more than ever before.
The rise in pitch velocity and continued peak effort have spawned an epidemic of arm injuries in baseball at all levels of competition, from youth leagues through the major leagues. While high-velocity fastballs can contribute to performance on the mound, the toll on the health of the sport’s stars has become increasingly evident. Unless the well-being and career spans of pitchers are reassessed, as high velocity maintains its demand, pitchers like Ohtani will likely continue to miss games due to injury going forward, which will drastically impact their careers and the fan experience.
