The 2024 MLB season opened with a concerning surge in pitcher injuries, presenting a significant challenge for the league. On Opening Day, a record number of new players took the mound, largely due to pitcher injuries. Among the casualties were Gerrit Cole, Shohei Ohtani, Sandy Alcantara, Jacob deGrom, Shane McClanahan, and Germán Márquez, all sidelined with elbow issues.
As the season has continued, more pitchers have succumbed to similar injuries, with Shane Bieber, Spencer Strider, and Eury Pérez now joining the list. Whether these injuries occurred during the previous season, the offseason, or spring training, the tally has continued to rise. Speculation is rampant regarding the cause of this alarming trend, with many pointing to the MLB’s pitch clock as a significant factor, alongside the annual increase in pitch velocity.
In September 2022, Major League Baseball announced the implementation of a pitch clock for the 2023 season, aiming to reduce game times. This initiative introduced a 30-second timer between batters, a 15-second timer between pitches with empty bases, and a 20-second timer with runners on base.
Photo Cred: Ideastream (Shane Bieber)
On Saturday, April 6, MLBPA Executive Director Tony Clark said in a press conference, “Despite unanimous player opposition and significant concerns regarding health and safety, the commissioner’s office reduced the length of the pitch clock last December, just one season removed from imposing the most significant rule change in decades.”
Clark continued, saying, “Since then, our concerns about the health impacts of reduced recovery time have only intensified. The league’s unwillingness thus far to acknowledge or study the effects of these profound changes is an unprecedented threat to our game and its most valuable asset — the players.”
While the clock did its job of shortening games, with the average duration of a nine-inning game decreasing by 24 minutes in 2023, it does not take into account the toll it takes on a pitcher’s arm and body. After years of training and getting used to a specific routine, altering and shortening it can inflict significant damage. For some, this may mean minor adjustments that could disrupt mechanics, while for others, it could mean a complete overhaul of their pitching mechanics.
Photo Cred: AP Photos (Justin Verlander)
While players in baseball have long experienced UCL tears, earning the injury the nickname “Tommy John”, there has been a recent spike in occurrences. Many attribute this surge to the implementation of the pitch clock. Although research backing this claim is lacking, it remains a concern for players and the MLB Players Association.
Another contributing factor is pitching technique. The league has traditionally valued players who throw with high velocity, but this approach often leads to elbow injuries, just as we are seeing lately.
One of the notable examples of this is Marlins’ pitcher Eury Perez. After a rookie season with limited innings and getting shut down for the postseason due to injury, he returned to the mound this year only to suffer another injury almost immediately. With players exerting maximum effort to achieve high velocity or spin, a growing number of young arms are requiring surgery. This will undoubtedly impact the rest of their careers.
Photo Cred: Sports Illustrated (Eury Perez)
As the years go by, the number of players, particularly pitchers, going under the knife appears to increase steadily. Every day brings the possibility of injury to pitchers on your favorite team. If teams expect such high levels of performance from their pitchers, they must also anticipate the likelihood of injuries.
This ongoing risk of injury may shape the future market for pitchers. Shohei Ohtani recently signed the largest contract in American sports ($700 million) but will not be able to pitch until 2025. Gerrit Cole signed a $300 million deal and is unlikely to pitch this year. Yoshinobu Yamamoto just inked the largest contract for a pitcher but, given his throwing style characterized by high velocity and spin, it appears only a matter of time before baseball claims another great player. The pitcher market seems to grow riskier with each passing year and, until measures are taken to address it, the situation will only worsen.
Photo Cred: Sports Illustrated (Gerrit Cole)
