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Contrary to what former NFL star Cam Newton said last year, baseball isn’t a “dying” sport, but this is definitely the moment to make sure it stays future-proof. And that starts with protecting the next generation of talent. But one worrying trend for MLB stands out… The growing number of young players undergoing Tommy John surgery! Well, pitchers in MLB have always had to battle arm issues, as throwing 100 mph fastballs puts enormous stress on their elbows. Big names like Shohei Ohtani and Jacob deGrom have missed major time recovering from those injuries. But while injuries are part of the job at the professional level, it’s much more alarming to see these same problems showing up among high school and junior-level players. And a recent report from a former Mets scout shines a light on just how serious this problem is becoming! “A friend of mine, 14-year-old son, who is a catcher, just had TJ surgery. They are from a warmer state where they play year-round baseball. He throws year-round & never shuts down & plays 100+ games a year. DR said this is from overuse & not giving the arm a break,” former Mets scout Coach Switala shared the story via X. ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad Now, don’t treat this incident as a one-off because it’s part of a much bigger, more troubling pattern. Dr. Christopher Ahmad, the Yankees’ head physician, points out that in 2023, more MLB-level pitchers had Tommy John surgery than in the entire 1990s combined. So, that’s a staggering sign of how the game has changed. ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad He explains that UCL injuries used to mostly affect veteran pitchers, who had logged thousands of innings and simply wore their elbows out over time. But now, things are very different. These injuries are showing up everywhere, including high school freshmen, college aces, and young prospects chasing the big leagues. While MLB pitchers do need to take more responsibility for managing their workload, the real concern is why these young players are breaking down so early. The answer lies in today’s baseball culture… Kids are training like pros from the moment they pick up a ball. They’re pitching year-round, all to get a shot at the majors. And that nonstop push is leading to serious overuse and, for too many, an early trip to the operating table. Read Top Stories First From EssentiallySports Click here and check box next to EssentiallySports Now the question is, why are the rookies focusing more on velocity? ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad The modern MLB trend of increasing velocity is pushing the boundaries Well, the modern-day MLB is defined by velocity! Reportedly, just a few years ago, hitting 100 mph on the radar gun was almost unheard of. But now, it’s become part of everyday baseball. For instance, in 2019, pitchers threw just over a thousand pitches that broke the 100 mph mark. By 2022, that number had tripled to more than 3,300. Thus, making 100 mph fastballs more common than double plays or stolen bases! Now, this obsession with speed comes at a cost. The harder a pitcher throws, the more stress it puts on the elbow. And that’s directly tied to the surge in UCL injuries. What’s even more worrying is that this chase for velocity starts earlier than ever. With the young pitchers eventually targeting to get on the MLB scene, they are often motivated by radar gun numbers and the dream of standing out. Hence, the school rookies are throwing more often and pushing their arms beyond what they’re built to handle. With scholarships, college spots, pro contracts, and endorsements all on the line, everyone feels the pressure to chase speed and performance. With playing MLB being the dream, the future batch of stars might be facing an epidemic that could cause havoc for the league in the long term.
