Could there be surge in Tommy John injuries for pitchers?
Fans are eagerly awaiting the return of Major League Baseball, but one notable doctor is concerned about one consequence such a return might have.
In a piece published in Medium on Friday, New York Yankees team physician Dr. Christopher Ahmad, who has been performing Tommy John surgery for over 20 years, said that the return of baseball could possibly lead to a surge in Tommy John injuries. Ahmad notes that he has observed a consistent spike in Tommy John surgeries during the spring (as opposed to other seasons) due to certain factors such as the lack of early season conditioning, lower preparation coming from the offseason, rapid competition intensity, and more. Ahmad worries that the current layoff combined with the huge craving for baseball to return could exacerbate these factors, creating greater pressures of exertion.
To counteract this potential effect, Ahmad suggests that players currently in social isolation should focus on strengthening and endurance regimens, start plotting out throwing programs, and take injury symptoms more seriously. The insightful piece is worth your time and can be found in its entirety here.
Over just the last couple of years alone, we have already seen a significant number of star pitchers who have had to undergo Tommy John surgery. The list includes Shohei Ohtani, Michael Fulmer, Chris Sale, Noah Syndergaard, and the Yankees’ own Luis Severino.
The current situation is creating issues for existing Tommy John patients, and now the concern is that it could lead to a greater number of future ones too.
