Why Elbow Injuries Are Reaching Epidemic Levels in Youth Baseball — and What MLB Is Doing About It
Youth baseball has never been more competitive. With year-round leagues, travel teams, showcase tournaments, and specialized pitching programs, young athletes are throwing harder and more often than ever before. While this increased level of competition has helped many players develop elite skills, it has also contributed to a concerning rise in elbow injuries among youth baseball players. Orthopedic specialists across the country are seeing a significant increase in overuse injuries, particularly damage to the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL)—the ligament most commonly associated with Tommy John surgery . As a leading sports medicine elbow surgeon NYC athletes trust, Dr. Christopher Ahmad has spent decades treating baseball players at every level, from youth athletes to Major League Baseball professionals. The Growing Epidemic of Youth Elbow Injuries Elbow injuries were once considered relatively rare in younger athletes. Today, they are becoming increasingly common due to several fa...