Rising Pitching Injuries in Major League Baseball: What’s Causing the Surge?
The 2024 Major League Baseball season has seen a concerning trend emerge as a significant number of pitchers are succumbing to injuries. The list of injured pitchers includes some of the biggest names in the game, such as Gerrit Cole, Justin Verlander, Robbie Ray, and Shane Bieber, who is set to miss an entire year following elbow surgery. The American League Cy Young winners are just the tip of the iceberg, as many other pitchers have also found themselves sidelined due to various arm, hand, and wrist injuries.
Out of the 166 players on the injured list at the start of the season, a staggering 132 were pitchers, accounting for nearly 80% of the total. This alarming statistic has raised questions about the root cause of these injuries and what can be done to prevent them in the future.
One theory that has gained traction is the impact of the pitch clock, which was introduced in 2023 to speed up the pace of games. The Major League Baseball Player’s Association (MLBPA) has pointed to the pitch clock as a potential factor in the increased number of injuries, citing the reduced recovery time between pitches as a contributing factor to pitcher fatigue and subsequent injuries.
However, MLB has pushed back against this claim, arguing that changes in pitching velocity and the increased stress on the elbow’s ulnar collateral ligament are more likely culprits. The debate over the cause of these injuries continues, with no clear consensus in sight.
As MLB conducts a study to investigate the origins of these injuries, the focus remains on finding ways to make pitching safer for players. Possible solutions include giving pitchers more control over their workload and allowing them to use grip agents to improve consistency in ball manufacturing.
In the high-stakes world of professional baseball, the health and well-being of pitchers are paramount. As the league grapples with the rising number of injuries, the search for solutions continues in the hopes of preserving the longevity and success of these talented athletes.