Early Predictions... Best NKY Sophomores

...Go

Ethan Kavanagh- highlands uk commit.

Berger for Beechwood should have a breakout year.

Colby Haines - Ryle (if he comes back healthy)

Bryce Smith- Dixie

Fantastic young pitcher who has the stuff to beat anyone.

Ethan Kavanagh- highlands uk commit.

Collin Hollingsworth HHS LHP

Bryce Smith- Dixie

Fantastic young pitcher who has the stuff to beat anyone.

I heard he was having Tommy John..

That is terrible news! Good luck to Bryce if that is true. Hate to hear that

I heard he was having Tommy John..

I heard the same.

How does a sophomore need TJ surgery? How does that happen?

How does a sophomore need TJ surgery? How does that happen?

It’s a rising problem...something that’s happening more and more often. The simple answer is the fact that young kids nowadays simply play more baseball. 30 years ago, my teams were playing 15-20 games per year, with twice per week practice. Now some kids are playing 4 or 5 times that amount 9 months out of the year. In addition to kids playing more, injury diagnosis is much improved, and more doctors are able to do the surgery. Remember, this surgery has only been around 45 years, and for much of that time was viewed as a last resort. Now with 80+% success rates, and more doctors not only able, but willing to do the surgery, it’s not a surprise that it’s done more often.

There are tons of articles out there that address this topic.

Why Tommy John surgery has become more frequent in youth baseball | SI.com

Experts warn parents about recent uptick in youth baseball injuries - ABC News

Some think he was overused this summer.

How does a sophomore need TJ surgery? How does that happen?

I was told by someone who scouted him that it appeared he fell in love with the curveball...and with him being so young it's not surprising that his elbow didn't hold up.

I was told by someone who scouted him that it appeared he fell in love with the curveball...and with him being so young it's not surprising that his elbow didn't hold up.

Doctors are now saying the curveball is no harder in the elbow than the strain of a fastball. It’s more of a function of too many fastballs over a long period of time.

Check out a book called “Fastball.”

Doctors are now saying the curveball is no harder in the elbow than the strain of a fastball. It’s more of a function of too many fastballs over a long period of time.

 

Check out a book called “Fastball.”

Yep. It’s a function of too many pitches, at max velocity, thrown too often. It’s not the junk ballers you see getting this surgery. It’s the hard throwers.