Should We Be Concerned? The increase of Sports Related Injury in the MLB

Injury Trends: 2020–2025

2020–2021: The Pandemic Effect

The shortened 2020 season, implemented due to COVID-19, led to a spike in injuries. Pitchers, in particular, saw a 3.5-fold increase in elbow injuries compared to previous seasons. This surge was largely due to disrupted training routines and condensed schedules .Carolina Digital Repository

2022–2023: Escalating Concerns

In 2023, MLB recorded over 1,000 players on the injured list, a substantial increase from just under 700 in 2022. Common injuries included muscle strains, ligament tears, and overuse injuries, especially in pitchers' elbows and shoulders .New York Post+3Divine Health+3Wikipedia+3

2024–2025: Ongoing Challenges

By 2025, injury rates remained elevated. Notably, the number of Tommy John surgeries for major and minor league players peaked at 314 in 2020 and remained high with 281 procedures in 2024 . Additionally, injured-list placements from spring training through Opening Day rose from 61 in 2017 to 112 in 2025 .MLB.com+2PMC+2IJSPT+2AP News+4AP News+4ESPN.com+4

⚠️ Key Factors Contributing to Increased Injuries

Velocity and Max Effort Pitching

MLB's 2024 report identified the pursuit of higher pitch velocities and maximum effort as primary contributors to the rise in pitcher injuries. Since 2008, average fastball velocities have increased from 91.3 mph to 94.2 mph, correlating with a surge in arm injuries .
Year-Round Training and Offseason Workloads

Pitchers now engage in intensive training during the offseason, aiming to enhance their pitching "stuff." This year-round approach, often lacking adequate rest, has been linked to increased injury risks, particularly during spring training .
Youth and Amateur Level Impacts

The emphasis on velocity has trickled down to youth and high school baseball. UCL surgeries among youth and high school pitchers at the Andrews Sports Medicine & Orthopedic Center rose from 10% of all UCL surgeries in 1995 to 52% in 2021 before dropping to 42% in 2023 .

Author

Peter Wenger, MD Peter C. Wenger, MD, is an orthopedic and non-operative sports injury specialist at Princeton Sports and Family Medicine, P.C., in Lawrenceville, New Jersey. He is board certified in both family medicine and sports medicine. Dr. Wenger brings a unique approach to sports medicine care with his comprehensive understanding of family medicine, sports medicine, and surgery. As a multisport athlete himself, he understands a patient’s desire to safely return to their sport.

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