Yordan’s first attempted return and the Jake Meyers debacle argues that trend may still be present.
Other than some pennant race scoreboard watching i don’t follow mlb other than the astros. Wondering if other teams are having an increase in arm injuries since the implementation of the pitch clock?
Not sure if anyone saw or not, but MLB sent out new rules to all teams essentially putting a dead period in place in terms contact with amateurs for about 3 months I think…Oct through Dec maybe. Anyhow, it’s aimed at letting these players focus on rest and recovery…along with working out versus trying to find more ways to get on the ballfield and impress scouts. Anyhow, maybe we are leading the charge in injuries (or maybe we just think we are), but it’s clear MLB sees it as problem in general for their sport…not just a few orgs.
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From the interwebs:
Approximately 35% of active Major League Baseball (MLB) pitchers had undergone Tommy John surgery by the end of the 2023 season
2016: 27.4% of MLB pitchers had undergone the surgery.
2023: The percentage was 35.7%.
2024: Sources report a range of 36-39%
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It’s a good question. I remember the MLBPA was upset with the number of pitching injuries last year and they blamed it on the pitch clock. Poking around the scientific literature, it looks like there have been a few studies:
Summary
The conclusion seems to be that the overall number of injuries (including lower body injuries) has gone down after introducing the pitch clock.
But there was a real uptick in flexor tendon and forearm injuries in 2024 (“discomfort,” perhaps?). And while one study appeared to show an increase in UCL surgeries when comparing 2021-2022 (50 total) to 2023-2024 (61 total), people who know more about statistics than me call that increase not statistically significant (although it looks like it was close to being significant). One set of researchers think there is evidence that pitchers are making it deeper into the season before getting UCL tears.
I do have questions about some of the methods in some of these studies. For example, one of the studies looked at injuries that occurred “in-season” between opening day and the end of the regular season. But that would obviously exclude spring training and post-season injuries, which is just as bad. And there’s no discussion that I saw that explicitly distinguishes between Tommy John surgery and the internal brace procedures used for less severe injuries. I also question the wisdom of using 2021 as part of the baseline for comparison–it was the first full season after the shortened COVID season and that extra rest/rust could affect the numbers for that year.
Sources:
- “Major League Baseball Pitchers Experienced Increased Flexor Tendon and Forearm Injuries 2 Years After Pitch Clock Implementation”
- “Pitch Clock Increases Tolerated Workload Before Ulnar Collateral Ligament Injury: A Retrospective Cohort Study of Major League Baseball”
- “The pitch timer is not associated with increased upper extremity injuries in Major League Baseball pitchers, a 4-year analysis”
Can’t ignore the crackdown on spider tack in any look at pitching injuries. Some pitchers blamed it for a rash of injuries whatever year that was, 2022 or 2023 or whenever (Cole’s famous “for Pete’s sake” was about this, iirc). Seemed to think they were putting more strain on their arm to grip the ball and throw their good shit without the sticky stuff. Not suggesting MLB go back to ignoring pitchers using super glue, just saying it might also muddy the data over pitching injuries in recent years.
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I’m guessing pitchers (and their bodies) have probably acclimated a bit to the pitch clock since its inception. For instance, I notice many pitchers pausing and waiting till there is 1-3 secs left on the clock before starting their delivery…sometimes it is gamesmanship but most of the time I think it is a calculated effort to give their body a rest. One time might not matter but if you’re making an effort to maximize that time in between pitches during the entire game it probably adds up.
Linking here because the whole thing is a really interesting watch. Hadn’t paid much attention to his channel before, thanks for recommending.
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This makes me fear that he will re-injure it and be in worse shape than previously. It will be interesting to see where he plays.
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Especially with Yordan out, DH seems like a no-brainer
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Yeah, I can’t imagine they put him at 3B right now.
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DH, 2B or 1B. I honestly doubt he sees the field unless Yordan was to make it back.
Also, Espada said a few days ago that if he did make it back he would tell him to dial back the running to the point he’s able to stay off the injured list.
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Maybe but now would be the time to push the envelope if you were going to do it. He didn’t decide against surgery to play it safe IMO. He decided against it to play if he can and help this team win.
There is no way on God’s green earth I’d play him at 2B. Even if he was healthy, but certainly not with a gimpy leg.
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I agree in terms of the fact he’s not 100%. Disagree if he was healthy.
He’s at DH tonight, batting third.
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I’m with you, I want him nowhere near 2B, I know he’s played there in the past but that was a younger and probably lighter Isaac
No surprise but Yordan goes on the IL