Why are MLB pitching injuries on the rise? Four possible causes from pitch clock to changes at amateur level [Video]

The last week or so has been very bad for baseball. Miami Marlins wunderkind Eury Pérez and Cleveland Guardians ace Shane Bieber both went down with torn elbow ligaments that will require season-ending surgery, as did Yankees reliever Jonathan Loáisiga. Atlanta Braves righty Spencer Strider has a damaged ligament as well. He may be headed for his second career Tommy John surgery. Astros lefty Framber Valdez was scratched from his Monday start with elbow soreness.

Last season, 34.2% of pitchers to appear in an MLB game had Tommy John surgery at some point in their past, according to researcher Jon Roegele. That number was 34.0% in 2022, 30.5% in 2021, and 29.8% in 2019, the last full season before the pandemic. The number keeps going up because pitcher injuries keep going up. It’s an epidemic.

Injuries have been part of baseball as long as there …