In the competitive realm of Major League Baseball (MLB), we frequently hear about the dreaded UCL tear—an injury that sidelines pitchers for months, often necessitating surgery. However, this issue doesn’t merely spring up in the professional leagues; it has deep roots that begin much earlier, in the youthful stages of an athlete's career.
The bodies of young athletes, particularly those in their adolescent years, are still in a delicate phase of development. Their skeletal system has not fully ossified, meaning the bones are still solidifying and are susceptible to stress. This makes the skeletal framework malleable yet fragile. In such a state, the tendons and ligaments can exert more force than the bones can handle. Initially, this may lead to conditions like little league elbow or shoulder—irritations or stress fractures to the growth plate. In more severe cases, it can cause avulsion fractures where bone fragments are pulled away, necessitating surgical intervention. This stage of development requires cautious handling to prevent long-term damage. To quote VeloU’s Chief Medical Advisor, Dr. Brandon Erickson, “The greatest determining factor in a future elbow injury is a previous one at a young age.”
Today, children as young as eight are introduced to pitching, playing in games and tournaments that may allow them to deliver upwards of 75 pitches per game and, at times, over 40 in a given inning. To understand how ridiculous this is, there are several MiLB (minor league baseball) organizations that cap pitchers at 30 per inning to safeguard their future. The sheer volume of pitches these young players are subjected to is alarming and can lead to serious arm injuries at a very young age.
The structure of youth baseball also contributes to this issue. The distances required for pitching at these young ages are too far, leading not only to high pitch counts but also creating a host of other issues as well. These distances are often too great for young athletes, whose strength and fine motor skills are yet to fully develop. This results in throws that are wildly inaccurate, not due to a lack of effort but because these young pitchers are simply not yet physically equipped to handle such demands.
This imprecision in pitching has a domino effect. It distorts the learning curve for batters who struggle to understand the strike zone's true dimensions or the pitches' natural trajectory. In many cases, officials are compelled to artificially expand the strike zone simply to keep the game moving. This adjustment, while practical, does a disservice to both pitchers and batters by skewing their perception of effective pitching and hitting strategies.
Moreover, the implications of these excessive pitching distances ripple through other aspects of the game. For instance, almost every base on balls results in the runner advancing to third base due to uncontested steals, as it is nearly impossible for young catchers to make successful throws to second, let alone third base. This aspect of the game highlights not only the unrealistic expectations placed on these young players but also diminishes the overall excitement and pace of the game.
We find ourselves not only slowing down an already deliberate sport but also inadvertently stifling the confidence of these young athletes. By forcing them into a structure that is not tailored to their developmental stage, we risk alienating potential talent and embedding a sense of failure at a critical juncture in their athletic journey.
As a community devoted to nurturing future generations of baseball players, it's imperative that we reassess these distances and the associated rules. Our goal should be to make youth baseball not only more enjoyable but also a more effective platform for developing the skills necessary for success both on and off the field.
Research supports these concerns, revealing widespread noncompliance with Pitch Smart guidelines designed to prevent overuse injuries in youth baseball. A study analyzing youth baseball pitches found that noncompliance was prevalent, especially in tournament settings where pitch count restrictions are often ignored. The implications are clear: without some major adjustments to the manner in which we allow these youth athletes to play we will continue to see the widespread growth of injuries occur at every stage of the game.
A suggestion that might make sense for several youth leagues that could not only limit the risk of injury but also increase the awareness and skill of the players would be to go to machine pitch after coach pitch for two years. In this time period, you can start to make your way back in terms of distance as now the hitters are confident that the pitch will be a strike and can start to develop the necessary ball-tracking ability. In addition, this should cause more offensive action, keeping the game moving, players more involved, and ultimately a more enjoyable experience for all.
