News items about Tommy John surgeries are fairly commonplace in baseball circles, but there’s no doubting it’s a significant event for the impacted player. It usually takes over a year to return to form, with a multi-stage rehabilitation process required to regain functionality.
Once a player gets back into game shape, there’s no guarantee the results will be the same. Justin Verlander looked just as good as ever in 2022, but Mike Clevinger didn’t get his velocity all the way back and saw his strikeout rate dip. He could still take another step forward in 2023 now that he’s another year removed from the procedure, but it goes to show that there are no guarantees about what happens in the aftermath.
Here are some players who went under the knife over the past year or so and who will be looking for good progress in 2023, both for their teams and themselves. Huge shoutout to the Tommy John Surgery list for having these details and so much more.
Forrest Whitley, Astros — Surgery Date: March 2021
Whitley, 25, was once considered one of the best pitching prospects in baseball, but his progress has been stalled by various factors. He missed 50 games in 2018 due to a drug suspension, and injuries have hampered him in the years since. He returned from his layoff late last year and tossed 40 innings in the minors but walked 14.5% of batters faced. The Astros already have a great rotation without him, but if Whitley could get back to the form that made him such a hyped prospect, they would be even more loaded.
Kirby Yates, Braves — March 2021
Yates, 36 in March, was one of the best relievers in the league in 2018 and 2019, arguably the best. He posted a 1.67 ERA over 125 games, striking out 38.7% of batters faced, walking just 6.1% of them and getting grounders on 45.2% of balls in play. Since then, however, he’s thrown just 11 1/3 innings. Seven of those came late in the 2022 season, though Yates gave up four runs on six hits and five walks in seven innings. This will be his first full season back. The Braves have a strong bullpen even if Yates can’t get back to peak form, but they’ll likely be in a tight division race and that kind of elite stuff would provide a nice boost.
José Leclerc and Jonathan Hernández, Rangers — March and April 2021, respectively
Leclerc, 29, seemed to be establishing himself as an excellent reliever in 2018. He got into 59 games for the Rangers and posted a 1.56 ERA, getting 12 saves and 15 holds in the process. A .211 BABIP surely helped, but there was a lot to like. He took a step back in 2019 with a 4.33 ERA and then missed most of the following two years. Leclerc returned in June of last year and struggled at first before posting a 2.01 ERA from July onwards. Hernández had a 2.90 ERA in 2020 before missing the 2021 campaign. He returned last year and posted a 2.97 ERA, but with concerning peripherals. His 6.4% walk rate from the former campaign jumped to 13% while his strikeout rate fell from 24.8% to 20.6%. On the more encouraging side, his ground ball rate went from 45.7% to 62.4%. The Rangers totally overhauled their rotation without doing much to the bullpen, but they could potentially get a boost from within if Leclerc and/or Hernández look good this year.
Adrián Morejón, Padres — April 2021
Once considered a top pitching prospect, Morejón, 24 next month, has been slowed by various injuries. He returned in 2022 but worked only in relief, tossing 34 innings in the majors and 13 1/3 in the minors. The Padres have some uncertainty in the back of their rotation that Morejón could help with if he stays healthy, but he’ll likely have workload concerns after so much missed time.
James Paxton, Red Sox — April 2021
Paxton, 34, had a great four-year run with the Mariners and Yankees from 2016 to 2019. However, he’s hardly pitched over the last three years due to various arm issues. He got back on the mound last summer while attempting to come back from Tommy John but then suffered a lat tear that halted his comeback effort. The Red Sox then had the choice to trigger a two-year option on the lefty worth $26MM, which they turned down based on his uncertain health outlook. He then had a $4MM player option that he triggered and will be with the Sox for 2023. He and Chris Sale would have made for a formidable one-two punch at the top of a rotation a few years ago, but neither has been healthy and effective for quite some time. Their status this year figures to have a huge impact on the fortunes of the Sox for the upcoming campaign.
Dustin May, Dodgers — May 2021
May, 25, returned late last year and was able to make six starts for the Dodgers. He posted a 4.50 ERA in that time and struck out 22.8% of batters faced, with both of those numbers paling in comparison to his pre-surgery form. The Dodgers let Tyler Anderson and Andrew Heaney depart from their 2022 rotation, while bringing in Noah Syndergaard. The quiet offseason will be easier to accept if May can post results like he did over 2019-2021: 2.93 ERA, 24.2% strikeout rate, 5.9% walk rate, 51.6% ground ball rate.
Joey Lucchesi, Mets — June 2021
Lucchesi, 30 in June, made 56 starts for the Padres in 2018 and 2019 with a 4.14 ERA. He didn’t get much of an opportunity in 2020 and was flipped to the Mets as part of the Joe Musgrove trade. He isn’t one of the club’s five best starters right now, but their rotation features four veterans who are 34 or older in Verlander, Max Scherzer, Carlos Carrasco and José Quintana. Also, Kodai Senga is making the transition from Japan, where starters frequently only pitch once a week. The club will surely need to rely on its depth this year at some point, making Lucchesi a key part of the equation.
Spencer Turnbull, Tigers — July 2021
Turnbull, 30, was seeming to make progress towards being a quality starter for the Tigers. He posted a 4.61 ERA in 2019 but got that down to 3.97 in 2020. He pushed it down even more in 2021, registering a 2.88 ERA over nine starts before getting shut down and requiring surgery. The Tigers seem likely to be without Casey Mize and Tarik Skubal to start the year as those pitchers deal with their own injuries. That could leave a path for Turnbull to get back on track.
Tyler Glasnow, Rays — August 2021
Glasnow, 29, didn’t live up to expectations with the Pirates but made good on his prospect pedigree after getting traded to the Rays. From 2019 to 2021, he had a 2.80 ERA while striking out 35.9% of batters faced and walking just 7.8% of them. Tommy John surgery put him out of action for a while but he was able to return late last year, making two starts in the regular season and one in the postseason. Glasnow has looked like an ace at times but still hasn’t maintained it over an extended stretch, still never reaching 115 innings in a major league season. The Rays have been fairly quiet this winter, but a healthy Glasnow is arguably a bigger upgrade to their roster than any move they could have made.
Tejay Antone, Reds — August 2021
Antone, 29, debuted in 2020 and was excellent out of the Reds’ bullpen. Over that year and 2021, he tossed 69 innings with a 2.48 ERA, 32.3% strikeout rate and 48% ground ball rate. The walks were a little high at 10.8% but he was still able to be incredibly effective regardless. He isn’t slated to reach free agency until after 2025, but the rebuilding Reds might have to consider a deadline deal if Antone is healthy and pitching well this summer.
Garrett Crochet, White Sox — April 2022
Crochet, 24 in June, was selected 11th overall in the 2020 draft and made his MLB debut later that year. Between his five appearances in 2020 and 54 more the following year, he has a 2.54 ERA and 29% strikeout rate. He’ll likely miss at least part of the upcoming campaign but the club is planning on keeping him in a relief role, which could help him return quicker.
Luke Jackson, Giants — April 2022
Jackson, 31, had a huge breakout with the Braves in 2021. He tossed 63 2/3 innings with a 1.98 ERA, striking out 26.8% of batters faced while getting grounders at a healthy 52.5% clip. He wasn’t as effective in the playoffs but nonetheless was part of the club’s World Series victory that year. He reached free agency and signed with the Giants, who are taking a shot on a return to form, though Jackson might miss the first couple of months of the 2023 season.
John Means, Orioles — April 2022
Means, 30 in April, was one of the few highlights for the Orioles during their leanest rebuilding years. He has a 3.81 ERA in 356 2/3 career innings, keeping his walks down to an excellent 5% rate. The Orioles took a huge step forward last year, graduating many of their top prospects and actually flirting with postseason contention. They’ll be looking to make more progress this year, but the rotation is still lacking in proven options. Getting Means back into the mix would be a big help if some of the younger guys struggle.
Chris Paddack, Twins — May 2022
Paddack, 27, had a great debut with the Padres in 2019, making 26 starts with a 3.33 ERA. His results fell off in the next two seasons, and he dealt with an elbow strain late in the 2021 season, but the Twins still liked him enough to acquire him as part of their return for Taylor Rogers. He was only able to make five starts before landing on the shelf. Their faith doesn’t seem to have wavered, as they recently signed him to a three-year extension. The Twins have a solid rotation on paper, but nearly the entire group landed on the injured list at some point in 2022. Kenta Maeda missed the whole season while rehabbing from an internal brace procedure, a modification of Tommy John surgery. Since injuries were the big story for the Twins in 2022, better health and/or better depth will be important in 2023.
Chad Green, Free Agent — June 2022
Green, 32 in May, spent the past seven seasons pitching for the Yankees. He tossed 383 2/3 innings in that time with a 3.17 ERA, striking out 32.5% of batters faced against a 6.3% walk rate. Unfortunately, he required Tommy John just a few months away from qualifying for free agency. He has yet to sign with a club, but players in this position often sign two-year deals that cover their rehab and give the team an extra year of control. If Green can find himself a deal like that, he could be a wild card down the stretch.
Casey Mize, Tigers — June 2022
Mize, 26 in May, was selected first overall by the Tigers in 2018. He posted a solid 3.71 ERA in 2021, but with disappointing underlying metrics. He only struck out 19.3% of batters faced and had a much higher 4.92 xERA, 4.71 FIP and 4.45 SIERA. After a dreadful 2022 season, the Tigers need to see how Turnbull, Mize, Skubal and Manning look this year before deciding how to proceed for the future.
Hyun Jin Ryu, Blue Jays — June 2022
Ryu, 36 in March, has oscillated between being injured and dominant for much of his career. He signed a four-year deal with the Blue Jays prior to 2020 and posted a 2.69 ERA that year, coming in third in the AL Cy Young voting. His ERA ticked up to 4.37 in 2021, and Ryu struggled even more last year before going under the knife. The Jays have a solid front four in their rotation but uncertainty at the back. Ryu is targeting a July return, and his health at that time could impact how the Jays approach the trade deadline.
Andrew Kittredge, Rays — June 2022
Kittredge, 33 in March, dominated in 2021 by posting a 1.88 ERA over 71 2/3 innings. He struck out 27.3% of batters he faced while walking just 5.3% of them and also got grounders on 53.5% of balls in play. He took a step back last year but made multiple trips to the injured list and likely wasn’t 100%. He’ll surely miss the first several months of the season but could jump into Tampa’s bullpen down the stretch.
Walker Buehler, Dodgers — August 2022
Buehler, 28, has an excellent track record for the Dodgers, having posted a 3.02 ERA in 638 1/3 innings. He’s struck out 27% of opponents while giving out free passes to just 6.3% of them. The Dodgers will have to get by without him for the majority of 2023, though there’s a chance he could be a late addition to the roster if all goes well. His August surgery makes him roughly one year behind Glasnow, who was able to return late in 2022. However, Glasnow’s procedure was August 4th of 2021 while Buehler’s was on the 23rd of last year. Still, if the Dodgers make a deep postseason run, that could give Buehler the runway he needs to make a landing this year.
September 2022 Or Later: Shane Baz, Anthony Gose, Scott Effross, Tyler Matzek, Bryce Harper
These players face longer odds of making an impact since their surgeries were so late in the year. The major exception is Harper, since position players require less recovery time than pitchers. Harper is hoped to be able to return to the Phillies around the All-Star break as a designated hitter, with a chance of returning to the field later in the campaign.
Very nice sneak in of Bryce Harper at the end.
It is quite strange that a hitter is in the list. Why is that? Can’t he still DH if he can’t throw? How does a hitter require TJS?
Hitters have ligaments, too.
Wait… hitters have ligaments??? I thought they were a different species!
If any hitter is a different species, it’s Harper.
Some hitters damaged their elbows when they pitched in high school and, especially, if they pitched in college. For example, Catcher Matt Wieters was the closer at Georgia Tech his first two years and co-closer his final year. The TJ at 28 y.o. really de-railed his career.
@RUNDMC – choked on my coffee when I saw the question…then snorted it when I saw your answer. Nice work!
Ohtani DH’d while recovering from TJ.
Can’t he learn to swing with one arm?
Harper probably could still be above average or close to it with 1 arm.
That’s a clown question bro. 😉
How do you think he tore the ligament in the first place?
you are a clown bro
@deGrom Texas Rangers Look in the mirror.
deGrom, I trust you know where the quote is from? Try and have a little fun. You’ll love longer.
No idea.
deGrom, I’m sure you can find it at the link below
google.com/
Bryce’s infamous-slash-legendary retort to when a reporter baited him in a question asking if he celebrated by drinking underage (in USA), though he was in Canada where he’d be legally-allowed to drink alcohol:
youtube.com/watch?v=4dF5NcRvVxk
No, not strange at all to see Harper in the article. Please note the title of article includes players, not only pitchers.
@Paddy Yes, but I was initially referring to the TJ Surgery since it is usually for pitchers. You don’t usually hear of hitters.
Seriously, guys; you keep saying hitters…like these guys don’t play in the field, in this case outfield, and throw the ball??? A hard throw to try & get a got out on the bases or especially home can strain the elbow. Once it’s strained, anything is possible, torn tendons, inflammation, excessive calcium that remains & the elbow is a tight wire harness, scar tissue.
Bryce’s defense and great arm is especially needed in that PHI OF, being patrolled by a couple of DH.
That made me laugh. The DHs in the outfield comment
The thing is Harper has been terrible on defense for like the last 4 years. Yeah he’s got/ had a big arm but his general acumen in the outfield and his decision making has been less than stellar for quite some time. The dude came up as a catcher.
Beg to differ…clearly you don’t watch him play. He is basically an average OF that can be average plus for long stretches. Really good arm, solid range and makes the vast majority of the plays. Occasionally awkward, and sometimes needs to think before he throws. But head and shoulders above the two DH’s in the corners right now. Any team would be happy to have his defense in a corner spot, unless they are stacked with GG everywhere.
Well deGrom here a few notable names that had TJ and are not pitchers, Cory Seager, Didi, Canseco, D’Anard, Molitor, Vasquez, Torres, Sano, Mat Holiday, Aaron Hicks to name just few.
He was switched off of Catcher the moment he was drafted. I wouldn’t say he “came up” a Catcher. He played there as an teen amateur. But he could have begun the damage that led to TJ in those years.
@jays fan. Those are terrible examples also jays suck so who cares
It’s great to have a devoted fan.
Too bad you are too insecure to use your own username and have to keep stealing mine @fake degrom
Well deGrom, since one of those players are on your team i am not sure why they are terrible examples, regardless of how you feel about the Jays..
Jays, this guy is a troll/impersonator. Ignore him, as he is trying to confuse you guys by using my name and picking fights. Those are great examples. He is an Astros fan. See his comments on the Nathan Evoldi post and you will see he Luke’s the Astros or Mets most likely.
LOL, I am a paying member and have had my jayfansince1977 moniker on this site since it’s inception! Can you say the same??? Picking fights??? you stated position players do not get TJ, I posted several that had including one on your team, the only “Troll” here is you!!!
What? I am not talking about you. Look at deGrom Texas Rangers vs me. Read the usernames carefully please. You are misunderstanding what I am saying. The S guy is picking fights, not you. You have been respectful. His comments are very different from mine. Don’t fall for the scam (him)…
I am sorry i now see the “s” on the end that is different from you!!! It seemed kinda crazy you would like my comment then make a strange reply
Because they play defense and have to throw the ball. He’s not supposed to even start hitting until something like July and even then it’ll be strictly as a DH.
I’d imagine having an elbow made out of hamburger meat isn’t conducive to having a comfortable off the field life. Obviously he had the surgery b/c the elbow was unstable and wasn’t going to fix itself.
Or pro athletes don’t have the time it takes for the ligaments to heal. Gotta strike when they’re at their physical peaks.
It’s from him throwing in the OF
John Curtiss Mets should also be on this list
Correct. The Mets have a crowded staff, which is a good problem to have if several of those pitchers have options. I count at least nine MLB level starters and, probably, close to that in relievers with MLB experience.
So they’ve decided to pay a couple of 40 year olds $90m to anchor their rotation? Those 7 other MLB ready starters aren’t ready for the lineups the Phillies & Braves are going to run out there.
At least they have Carlos Correa’s bat to give their offense a fighting chance.
Curtiss had his surgery first week in September 2021 and so all indications are he will start Spring Training healed and ready to go.
After a tough start to his big league career, he settled in in 2020 and 2021 and averaged 9.0 K/9 and 1.9 BB/9 and less 8.2 H/9. Not closer material but definitely a valuable member of any bullpen if he gets back to where he was.
The Rays should just give Glasnow an extension of $45 million for 2024, so he can stay in the AL East.
That really was sad that Effross went down as when he was with the Cubs I really liked him and was rather miffed when they traded him. But Wesneski turned out to be a revelation and poor Scott got hurt. Still, Whenever he does return I’m sure he’ll end up being excellent for the Yankees and in the end this deal will be one that works for both teams.
Yeah, we really like Effross too. The fact he went down compounds all of bad decisions Cashman made with prospects.
We really could use Effross this year.
He reminds me so much of a young Steve Cishek. But Effross’ stuff plays much better on LH than Cishek ever did. Which makes him better IMO.
James Paxton has averaged 83 innings / year over 9 seasons. Red Sox nation is in serious trouble if they’re relying on The Big Maple and Chris Sale to be their rotation saviors this season.
Red sox nation has even more problems well beyond sale and paxton. The team is a mess top to bottom, and, payroll was once again poorly allocated in a way that leaves an unbalanced lineup with glaring holes in the depth chart all over.
There’s not a single competent CF on the 40man. SS is a shambles. You’ve got a bunch of decent or projected decent hitters who can’t field, and, ‘ok’ fielders who can’t hit their way out of a wet paper bag because they strike out too much as they attempt a .200-.230 average. There’s probably half a dozen dh/1b types, no slick fielders for the infield, and, no speedy of defenders for a ballpark that demands 2 CF types to cover rf/cf.
Theres a 90% probability Devers will by default be the all-star selection since the Sox are required by the rules to get one player sent, but if he slacks off they’re going to have to find a fringe reliever to take the slot.
Jose Iglesias is still out there for SS. But I read somewhere that said the RS are aiming more towards Andrus.
Not sure that the Sox should be counting on either Paxton or Sale making it through an entire season.
They shouldn’t, but, when either or both inevitably go down, or in paxtons case, is utterly I effective, bloom will just shrug and say ‘how could anyone have guessed?’
Hey yo, Boston should sign Trevor Bauer and he could make a battery with Reese McGuire. Those 2 guys go hand-in-hand i would think…
“Cept the only thing that got bruised in Reese’s case was his pud.
I was gonna say hey, For once the Cubs don’t have anybody on this list and then I thought, Where’s Heuer? Cubs an afterthought even in this kind of dung.
I was bout to say the same thing. If Heuer comes back strong he will be a huge part of our pen. When healthy he can be nasty.
When I clicked on the article Heuer was the first one that I thought of. I havent seen too many updates on him. Even though a lefty would be preferred another pitcher for the bullpen would do a lot for the Cubs.
“(Heuer) noted at Cubs Convention on Jan. 13 that he resumed playing catch on flat ground earlier that day during his trip to Chicago. Barring any setbacks, Heuer estimated that he could target “mid-June, early July” for a return to the Cubs’ bullpen.”
didn’t Luis Gill have tj and should be back this year?
He didn’t go through TJ, though he did the TJ-alternative on his right elbow (similar to Rich Hill), but RP Nick Anderson now of ATL, could be a difference maker down the stretch.
Does MLB ban any performance enhancing surgeries?
Breast Enlargement?
Oh la la…
Bat enlargement?
I’m sorry abc but I gotta ask. What exactly are you talking about? Maybe a metal arm like the Winter Soldier? Or a lifelike robot arm like Will Smith in I, Robot? Taking in some Gamma Rays like Captain America? Where were you going with that question? I had to ask, the more I looked at it.
How is Tommy John not in the Hall of Fame?
His willingness to be the first to undergo the procedure named for him changed the game.
Then add in that he threw 4,700 innings of 3.34 ERA ball, 700 starts, 162 complete games, 46 shutouts, 288 wins, 604 double plays induced (this sinkerballer is #1 all time), 61.6 WAR. 88 post season innings with a 2.65 ERA, 3 CG’s and a shutout. The majority of those stats came after the surgery he had as a 32 year old in 1975. He was his best 1977-1981 pitching for 3 WS teams.
Hall of Fame, get him a plaque!
You are very right. statistically, he has a decent case, and is borderline at the worst. But factor in his contribution to take the surgery really should take it home.
I think the thing is that at the time he went through consideration the procedure was risky with mixed outcomes at best – in other words, it had not yet changed the game in any substantial way. It hasn’t been until recent times that the procedure has a high success rate.
So, all he had to stand on was an ok, but not exceptional, track record which didn’t get him in.
Perhaps one of the committees should take a look at him again in light of what the procedure has some to mean and his role as that pioneer. But then again, how much of that credit goes to him, and how much to the doctors. I don’t think the idea for how to do the procedure was his, was it?
Dr. Frank Jobe
Agreed – if anyone has contributed to the sport via the TJ Surgery, it’s Dr. Frank Jobe. Jobe developed it and performed it.
The surgery and him are both recognized in the HOF. As far as if ever gets in via committee, I don’t think the surgery should b relevant, it should only b his performance.
Pfft to Tommy John…
Put Dr, Frank Jobe in the Hall of Fame. He deserves it more than most entrants. He’s done more for the sport than most,
Twins got taken on Paddock. He was damaged. Their doctors must not be as smart about the elbow as the ankle.
And if that wasn’t bad enough, they just extended him!
They had Paddack’s manager from the previous season as their bench coach when they made the trade, so they knew exactly what they were getting. It was a gamble they took that looked OK for a bit until the elbow unraveled, but he’s a good young pitcher they want to take another chance on. .
There was a recent story about how he came back after the first TJ with a lot more run on his FB and it took him a year to harness it. His early success in MN before the last injury led the Twins to figure if he can make the adjustments once he should be able to again, so they gave him the extension. It’s not a ton of money if it only goes OK, and they do realize the risks involved, so what the heck.
Hard to imagine Buehler pitching much if at all next season. To be available in September he’d need an ideal recovery and a quick ramp-up from his second time under the knife.
You’re correct this time. Buehler likely won’t throw a pitch in a mlb game in 2023. They’ll slowly gear him up to go in 24.
Casey Sadler. Go M’s
Chris Rodriguez is gonna be a beast
I want to see how Dakota Hudson will do this year, but I guess he does not make the great list.
Darragh putting Cubs reliever Codi Heuer on the pay no mind list. Don’t piss off your boss, bro! cubsinsider.com/2022/09/06/reliever-codi-heuer-alr…
Wondering where the Codi Heuer love was at? He should be back by June and could end up closing too.
I dont think any of the 2022 TJS recepients will be back in 2023.
New to MLBTR?
Zero chance Shane Baz is back this year. Zero.
Wouldn’t hold my breath on Kittredge either. Anyone coming back from TJ just last year? I’ll believe it when I see it. Other than Bryce, of course.
What poetic justice it is that Tejay Antone gets TJ surgery.
What an asinine comment.
Thank you!!
Tejay Antone was solid before the injury. Hopefully he returns to form and is the setup guy to Alexis Diaz that is needed.
power sinker with nasty movement on a slurve. Love his stuff. If he can approach 100 again with similar movement/command then that’s a huge boon to what’s a poor bullpen
Yeah, Antone’s a beast
The careers of the two injured Tigers pitchers are remarkably different: Mize was the #1 pick and a top prospect with good stats in the minors (including a no-hitter in his AA debut), but struggled against MLB hitters after being swiftly promoted. Turnbull was picked in the second round, considered a mid-tier prospect at best and pitched quite some time in the minors. However, he improved after his promotion and looked like a TOR starter before his TJS (including a no-hitter in 2021).
Another Tiger coming back from TJS is C Jake Rogers. He could become the Tigers 1C with his good defense.
Gruß,
BSHH
You don’t hear of many Catchers needing TJ surgery, but hopefully it’ll turn his hitting numbers up a notch or two….
Great article, fun read.
Dustin May and Tyler Glasnow could ultimately become two giant difference makers for both the Dodgers and the Rays, respectively.
Without Buehler, May is going to be huge for the Dodgers. If Dustin May can rebound back into his pre-injury form, he could slot right in to Walker’s place, and the Dodgers very well might not skip a beat on their way to the NLCS.
Same goes for Glasnow and the Rays. His addition back to their rotation should be huge for the Rays, even if they’re somehow always able to find another adequate ML arm. When on, Glasnow is far from average, and his success could catapult the Rays right back into the thick of things in the East and in the battle to win the AL.
It’ll be interesting to see which of these aforementioned pitchers/players on this list has the biggest comeback. Although, if either the Dodgers or the Rays truly want to make an extended post season run, then I think both May and Glasnow would both have to have very solid bounceback seasons…
For May to be a big factor he has to regain control of his 4-seamer. That has to be his money pitch and last season he was having a hard time locating it.
I want James Paxton in the bullpen. He could be a dynamite set up guy and the reduced innings will help him stay healthy.
Evan Marshall and Jimmy Nelson are both coming back from Tommy John as well. Both are free agents.
Stop throwing curveballs when you’re 5 years old.
or 13. Not sure what I’d introduce first to my kid:
1) their own cell phone
2) their own car
3) a curveball
4) the first 20 minutes of Saving Private Ryan
My son was on a U11 team last year and one of the fathers of a 10 year old was pushing his son to throw all curveballs when he pitched. Of course, he does that the whole game and then complains about arm pain after a few starts. Oh well, enjoy your short career.
Overuse is the only thing proven to cause damage in young arms. More recent research has dispelled the old wives’ tale of curveball throwing being more detrimental than fastball throwing. The consensus is that it is uncertain which causes more stress of the arm. Consider the following:
“The fastball is thrown with consistently higher velocities than the curveball. Therefore, a proportionally smaller amount of force is required to generate the lower velocities seen when throwing curveballs. This would place less stress on the shoulder and elbow, and in theory, be less harmful to the throwing arm. Several published studies substantiate this line of thinking. Grantham, et al, reviewed 10 biomechanical studies and found no differences in proximal force or torque at the shoulder or elbow when comparing curveballs to fastballs. In one of the few biomechanical studies involving youth pitchers, Dun, et al, utilized 3D motion analysis to measure kinetic, kinematic and temporal parameters for fastballs, curveballs, and change-ups. They found increased proximal forces at the shoulder and elbow, as well as increased varus torque at the elbow and internal rotation torque at the shoulder when throwing fastballs.”
Curveballs in Youth Pitchers: A Review of the Current Literature
Trent M. Tamate, MD and Alexander C. Garber, MD, PhD
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6874692/
Sliders and Cutters are harder on your elbow than curve balls. And Splitters are worse than that but not many young guys have the finger dexterity yet to even attempt one thank god.
And maybe fastballs are the worst for shoulders. Curious if you have sources or if you are sharing how you felt pain from pitching in the past.
I can only repeat what I’ve heard from P’s and Coaches of my own, Plus my own experiences plus some guys I caught. Plus Mike Marshall is a valuable resource.
It’s why Hendricks and the Cubs are so stupid because if they had taken care of the problem last year for his shoulder tear, Which I can speak of, He would of been ready for this year in June probably. At which point he could of been an addition if someone got hurt, A trade piece if everything falls apart and he would of set himself up in what’s a contract year for him. Now when he has to get operated on, He’s screwed, The Cubs are screwed and it’s a lost year for him. The way he spins the ball both ways puts a lot of torque on his shoulder and it’s not gonna be fixed by rehabbing it. I know, I had it and I’m not a ML Pitcher.
I agree that it’s a gamble to treat a capsular tear with rest and PT rather than surgery.
As for the other point, I put more faith in researchers. Coaches have been putting all the blame on damage to kids’ arms for decades upon decades on throwing curves, but it has become clear that not throwing the curve at a young age is no panacea. The suggestion that future TJ surgeries could be avoided if kids “Stop throwing curveballs when (they’re) 5 years old” is not going to be helpful, hyperbole notwithstanding.
John Curtiss coming back for the Mets, too.
Big add if back to previous level.
No Codi Heuer?
Not sure I understand why the Reds would need to deal Antone before the trade deadline in 2023 if he is having a good season when he is locked up until 2026?
This org never does things at the most advantageous times anyway.