The 2023 Major League Baseball (MLB) season has been marked by a troubling trend: an unprecedented spike in pitcher injuries. This increase has become a significant concern as teams across the league see some of their most promising talents sidelined for the season. The root cause seems to pinpoint to torn elbow ligaments, an injury notoriously difficult to recover from and one that has felled both seasoned pitchers and rising stars alike.
Notable Injuries This Season
Two of the most headline-grabbing injuries this year involve Eury Pérez and Shane Bieber, both of whom will not return to the mound until next season due to torn elbow ligaments. They represent just the tip of the iceberg. Jonathan Loáisiga and Spencer Strider have also seen their season prematurely ended due to elbow surgeries. Meanwhile, Framber Valdez's recent scratch from a start due to elbow soreness sparks concerns that he might be the next addition to this growing list of injured pitchers.
A startling statistic reveals that a whopping 34.2% of pitchers appearing in MLB games have undergone Tommy John surgery, a procedure typically prescribed for repairing a torn ulnar collateral ligament in the elbow. This season saw 132 pitchers on the injured list on Opening Day, accounting for 80% of all such assignments, which signifies an alarming trend in the league.
Identifying Causes
Tony Clark, the head of the players' union, has pointed his finger at the newly implemented pitch clock for this surge in injuries. Contrarily, MLB has produced studies claiming no correlation exists between the pitch clock's introduction and the rise in injury risk. Further complicating the discourse is the prevailing counterargument: pitchers are throwing harder than ever before, seemingly increasing the innate risk of injury regardless of any rule changes. Additionally, the recent crackdown on foreign substances used on balls could be forcing pitchers to adjust their grips and throwing techniques, potentially leading to more strain on their arms.
The issue, however, is complex and cannot solely be attributed to a single factor. Early specialization in pitching and an emphasis on velocity right from youth baseball are considered significant contributors to the problem. Young pitchers often focus on increasing their speed, which can result in undue stress on developing arm ligaments, setting the stage for injuries later in their careers.
Strategic changes in how pitchers are utilized during games also play a role. There is an increasing trend towards maximizing effort with every pitch. This approach puts considerable physical strain on pitchers, possibly exacerbating the likelihood of injury. The modern pitching strategy thus demands a fundamental reevaluation to ensure players' health and career longevity are not compromised.
The Balance Between Performance and Health
The players' union has publicly criticized the reduction of the pitch clock length, a move it sees as detrimental to players' well-being. "Despite unanimous player opposition and significant concerns regarding health and safety, the Commissioner's Office reduced the length of the pitch clock last December," the union stated, pinpointing the roll-out as hasty and potentially harmful.
Yet, the issue reflects broader challenges within the sport. "It's a double-edged sword," as one commentator put it, recognizing the difficulty in advising players not to maximize their physical prowess, especially when it could edge them closer to the coveted 100 mph mark. "How can you tell somebody not to utilize their full capabilities, especially when they can throw 100 mph? Yet, something needs to change."
This conundrum highlights the delicate balance between optimizing performance and safeguarding health in professional sports. As pitchers continue to push their limits, the mechanisms of care and regulation around them must evolve to mitigate the risk of injury. Whether this calls for changes in training, adjustments to game rules, or a revamp of pitching strategies, one thing is clear: the current trajectory of pitcher injuries in MLB is unsustainable, and concerted efforts are needed from all stakeholders to address this issue head-on.
As the 2023 season progresses, the spotlight remains on how MLB, team coaches, and the players themselves navigate these challenges. With the health and careers of pitchers at stake, finding a solution becomes crucial not just for the individuals affected but for the future of the league as a whole.