Older, Starting, and Pitchers With Greater Increase in Pitch Pace Experience Elevated Injury Risk Following Pitch...

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Baseball Analytics
• Injury Epidemiology

Background:

• The introduction of the pitch clock in Major League Baseball (MLB) aimed to expedite games.
• Understanding the impact of this rule change on pitcher health is crucial for player safety and game integrity.
• Previous seasons lacked standardized pitch timing, making direct comparisons difficult.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify risk factors for pitcher injuries during MLB's inaugural pitch clock season (2023).
• To evaluate the association between pitcher injuries and changes in pitch pace from the 2022 to 2023 seasons.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of MLB Statcast data for pitchers with ≥70 pitches in 2022 and 2023.
• Inclusion of pitchers on the injured list in 2023 for injury analysis.
• Statistical evaluation using univariate and multivariate logistic regression, assessing age, position, and pitch pace changes.

Main Results:

• A total of 537 pitchers were analyzed, with 319 injuries recorded among 239 pitchers.
• Pitch pace significantly increased (decreased time between pitches) from 2022 to 2023.
• Each second decrease in pitch interval increased injury odds by 19%; older age and starting pitcher roles also significantly elevated injury risk.

Conclusions:

• Increased pitch pace, older age, and the starting pitcher role are significant risk factors for injury post-pitch clock implementation.
• Elbow and shoulder injuries were most prevalent, primarily affecting the throwing arm.
• These findings highlight the need for targeted injury prevention strategies in light of the pitch clock rule.