US baseball dispute will bring risks for both sides

Significance The lockout followed failure to reach a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) and pitches a cartel of owners against arguably the most powerful labour union in the United States. The two sides are far apart and disruption to the 2022 season cannot be ruled out. Impacts Even a contract agreement by February 1 would leave little time for free agents to find clubs and other players to secure terms. Should a players' strike happen, it will not be likely until after the season has begun, giving the players' union more leverage. Pressure to unionise minor league baseball will grow.

Baseball Players Exhibit Symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder After Ulnar Collateral Ligament Rupture (124)

Objectives: The significant psychological impact and prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have been thoroughly documented in multiple investigations of patients after anterior cruciate ligament ruptures, but this has not yet been assessed in patients after ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) rupture. Our hypothesis is that symptoms of PTSD are present among baseball players after UCL injury. Methods: Baseball players, from the high school to minor league baseball level who had suffered an acute UCL rupture were recruited at a tertiary care center. Patients completed the Horowitz Impact of Event Scale - Revised (IES-R) to analyze for PTSD symptomatology. Results: A total of 24 patients were enrolled. The mean patient age was 19.2 years (range 15-24 years). Twenty patients (83.3%) were pitchers; 12 pitched exclusively. Six patients surveyed played at the high school level (25%), 15 in college (62.5%), and 3 at the minor league level (12.5%). 100% of patients were male. Over 91% of patients experienced symptoms of intrusion, 87.5% displayed avoidance symptoms, and 79.2% had symptoms of hyperarousal. Twelve patients (50%) scored >24 on the IES-R (PTSD is a clinical concern). 6 patients (25%) reached the threshold for a probable diagnosis of PTSD (³33 on the IES-R). Conclusions: Following UCL rupture, athletes experience substantial emotional trauma, and a significant proportion of patients experience symptoms severe enough to warrant a diagnosis of PTSD.

Effect of Forearm Position on Glenohumeral External Rotation Measurements in Baseball Players

Background: Alterations in glenohumeral internal rotation (GIR), glenohumeral external rotation (GER), and the total arc of motion (TAM) have been linked with increased injury risk in the shoulder and elbow. These motions have been routinely measured with the forearm in neutral rotation (GIRN, GERN, TAMN). GER capacity appears to be especially important. The throwing motion, however, requires forearm pronation as GER occurs to achieve optimal cocking (GERP). No previous studies have evaluated GERP to determine GER capacity or pronated TAM (TAMP) values. Hypothesis: There would be significant differences between GERN and TAMN and between GERP and TAMP. Study Design: Cross-sectional. Level of Evidence: Level 3. Methods: Sixty asymptomatic male Minor League Baseball players (32 pitchers, 28 position players) participated in the study and were tested on the first day of spring training. Passive range of motion measurements were recorded using a long-arm bubble goniometer for GIRN, GERN, and GERP on both arms. TAM was calculated separately as the sum of internal and external rotational measurements under neutral and pronated conditions. Results: Within pitchers and position players, all measurements were statistically reduced for the throwing arm ( P ≤ 0.03) except for GERN of the pitchers. GERP measures were significantly less than GERN for both arms of each group ( P < 0.01): pitchers throwing arm +11.8°/nonthrowing arm +4.8°, position players throwing arm = +8.6°/nonthrowing arm +4.0°. Conclusion: The forearm position of pronation, which appears to be mediated by tightness of the biceps, decreases GER capacity and TAM. GER and TAM should be calculated in neutral and pronated positions, considering that 80% of the players have a demonstrated difference between 8° and 12°. Clinical Relevance: Measurement of GERP more accurately reflects the GER required in throwing, allows better quantification of the motion capacity necessary to withstand the loads in throwing, and may suggest interventions for at risk athletes.

The Athletic Intelligence Quotient and Performance Outcomes in Professional Baseball

The focus on quantifiable data in sport performance has led to incremental advantages in baseball and has played an important role in the development of new hitting, pitching, fielding, and coaching strategies. Recently, researchers and team representatives have considered the impact of additional factors in baseball, including cognitive functioning. In this study, predictive validity for the Athletic Intelligence Quotient (AIQ) was examined vis-à-vis performance outcomes in professional baseball. Specifically, AIQ scores were obtained from 149 Minor League Baseball (MiLB) players prior to the 2014 baseball season and their subsequent performance was assessed through traditional and newly emphasized baseball statistics. Using hierarchical multiple regression, it was demonstrated that the AIQ predicted statistically significant relationships with hitting and pitching statistics, after controlling for other variables. Given the recent impact of analytics in professional sports, the potential importance of the AIQ in the selection and coaching process was discussed.

Starting pitchers demonstrate a greater hazard of arm injury compared to relief pitchers

Context: It is currently unclear how different pitching roles affect arm injury risk in professional pitchers. Objective: 1) Investigate the differences in arm injury hazard between professional baseball starting and relief pitchers; 2) Separately investigate elbow and shoulder injury hazard between professional baseball starting and relief pitchers. Study Design: Prospective cohort Setting: Minor League Baseball (MiLB) from 2013–2019 Patients or Other Participants: Pitchers Main Outcome Measures: Pitchers were followed for the entire MiLB season and athletic exposures (AE's) and injuries were recorded. Risk ratios and risk difference were calculated between starting and relieving MiLB pitchers. A cox survival analysis was then performed in relation to time to arm injury between starting and relieving MiLB pitchers. Subgroup analyses were performed for elbow and shoulder. Results: 297 pitchers were included with a total of 85,270 player days recorded. Arm injury incidence was 11.4 arm injuries per 10,000 AE's. Starting pitchers demonstrated greater risk ratio (1.2 (95% CI: 1.1–1.3)) and risk difference (13.6 (95% CI: 5.6–21.6)) and hazard of arm injury (2.4 (95% CI: 1.5–4.0)) compared to relief pitchers. No differences were observed for hazard of elbow injury between starting and relief pitchers (1.9 (95% CI: 0.8–4.2)). Starting pitchers demonstrated greater hazard of shoulder injury compared to relief pitchers (3.8 (95% CI: 2.0–7.1)). Conclusions: Starting pitchers demonstrated almost two and a half times greater hazard of arm injury compared to relief pitchers. Subgroup analyses demonstrated that starters exhibited greater hazard of shoulder injury compared to relievers; but, no differences were observed for hazard of elbow injury. However, due to the wide confidence intervals, these subgroup analyses should be interpreted with caution. Clinicians may need to consider cumulative exposure and fatigue and how these factors relate to different pitching roles when assessing pitching arm injury risk.

Structural Relationship between Physical Self-Concept, Occupational Instability, and Retirement Intention among South Korean Minor League Baseball Players

This study aimed to verify the structural relationship between physical self-concept, occupational instability, and retirement intention among South Korean minor league baseball players. Snowball sampling was used to recruit 180 minor league players who belonged to the South Korean professional baseball team and were active as of December 2020; data were collected through an online survey. Frequency analysis, psychometric validation, descriptive statistical analysis, and path analysis were performed. The results revealed that for these participants, (1) physical self-concept had a significant negative effect on their occupational instability; (2) physical self-concept did not directly affect their retirement intention; and (3) occupational instability had a significant positive effect on their retirement intentions. These results suggest the need to devise a plan addressing the practical difficulties experienced by professional minor league baseball players and improve the physical self-concept of these players to adapt to involuntary retirement. Additionally, a supportive environment should be created to reduce mental health risks.

Analysis of Injuries and Pitching Performance Between Major League Baseball and Nippon Professional Baseball: A 2-Team Comparison Between 2015 to 2019

Background: There has been minimal research investigating injury and pitching performance differences between Major League Baseball (MLB) and other professional leagues. Purpose/Hypothesis: This 2-team comparison between MLB and Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) involved affiliated players over 5 years. We hypothesized that teams would differ in the injury incidence, mechanism of injury, pitch velocity, and pitch type usage. Study Design: Descriptive epidemiology study. Methods: Between 2015 and 2019, pitching data as well as injury statistics for the highest level and minor league affiliates of the Los Angeles Angels (MLB) and the Hiroshima Toyo Carp (NPB) were reviewed for significant differences in the injury prevalence, injury type, mechanism of injury, and days missed. In total, 3781 MLB and 371 NPB injuries were studied. Results: MLB-affiliated players were significantly younger, taller, and heavier ( P < .001) than were NPB-affiliated players. MLB-affiliated pitchers threw faster than did their NPB counterparts ( P = .026). MLB minor league pitchers threw more curveballs than did NPB minor league pitchers ( P = .004), and MLB minor league relief pitchers threw more sliders than did NPB minor league relief pitchers ( P = .02). The MLB team had a 3.7-fold higher incidence of injuries versus the NPB team (0.030 vs 0.008 injuries per player-game, respectively) as well as more repeat injuries, with fewer days missed per injury (15.8 ± 54.7 vs 36.2 ± 55.1 days, respectively; P < .001). The MLB team also had a higher percentage of injuries that were throwing related ( P < .001), were contact related ( P < .001), and occurred outside of competition ( P < .001) compared with the NPB team. Conclusion: This is the first empirical study examining injury trends and pitching characteristics between MLB and NPB athletes. MLB-affiliated pitchers threw faster and relied more on breaking pitches in comparison with NPB-affiliated pitchers. From injury data, MLB players were younger, taller, and heavier with a higher percentage of throwing-related injuries, contact injuries, and injuries sustained outside of competition. Overall, the MLB team indicated a 3.7-fold higher rate of reported injuries with fewer days missed per injury than did the NPB team. Competitive conditions are distinctly different between MLB and NPB, and thus, more extensive research collaborations in the future can identify best practices to advance health and performance for both leagues.