MINNEAPOLIS – With the sport fixated on the status of its superstars, Major League Baseball's highest-paid star hypothesized that the sport's overall focus on things and the implementation of the pitch clock last season may be behind the spike in injuries.
Shohei Ohtani's right elbow bears a familiar scar among players in the sport, as he underwent Tommy John surgery after his senior season in 2018 and another major elbow procedure (later revealed to be a Tommy John/internal brace hybrid) last September.
He understands the impact that pitching near triple digits can have on the body, as he ranked eighth in average fastball velocity last season among pitchers who totaled at least 120 innings before exiting the August start with discomfort. However, he, as much as anyone, recognizes the value that pitching at such extreme velocity can bring, receiving a 10-year, $700 million deal from the Los Angeles Dodgers this winter for his arm as much as for his MVP-caliber bat. .
Ohtani, who began his throwing development last month after returning from surgery, said the focus on throwing at maximum effort coupled with the pitch clock could be a “significant factor” in the increase in throwing injuries that have plagued stars like Gerrit Cole. And Spencer Stryder, Shane Bieber, Yuri Perez and even Framber Valdez just two weeks into the season.
The desire to do this is understandable, as Ohtani says, “Pitchers want to throw the best possible pitch they can throw.”
“The quality of the pitch, it's not like I can come into the game and throw less quality pitches,” Ohtani said through interpreter Will Ireton.
Although he was not as vocal as Cole on Monday, the two-way star did not rule out potential pitch clock factors regarding pitcher injuries — something Major League Baseball pushed when the players union brought it up in a statement Saturday.
“I'm sure there's some extra stress on the body just having to maintain the workload in a shorter amount of time,” Ohtani said. “So personally, I'm sure there could be (a connection), but there's nothing concrete that we can say that's the only reason behind it,” he added.
Ohtani, who said his rehabilitation has gone well, has plenty of examples to see at his own club. Dodgers opener Tyler Glasnow underwent the same hybrid surgery Ohtani had in 2021. Walker Buehler completed his second rehab start with Triple-A Oklahoma City on Saturday in his attempt to return from his second Tommy John surgery. Dustin Maye will have his second major elbow surgery in three years, and 2022 NL All-Star right-hander Tony Gonsolin is expected to miss the entire season after undergoing Tommy John surgery last fall. Even Clayton Kershaw is coming off the first major procedure of his career after undergoing lip surgery last offseason.
These weapons have expiration dates. Sports grapple with why.
“Protecting these guys' arms is crucial,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “And obviously we didn't succeed in solving it.”
Required reading
(Photo: Caitlin Mulcahy/MLB Images via Getty Images)
“Student. Incurable problem solver. Amateur baconaholic. Introvert. Infuriatingly humble music fanatic.”