Tommy John Surgery in High School Baseball?

[Qryche11]

I am hearing more and more about kids that are undergoing this surgery while still in high school. What is the deal here? Are kids that play baseball 8 months out of the year shredding their arms or what?

[Play 2 Win]

I haven't heard of any High Schoolers, but very few play 8 months out of the year. Most pitchers are throwing year round.

[Qryche11]

I haven't heard of any High Schoolers, but very few play 8 months out of the year. Most pitchers are throwing year round.

 

I just read a thread on the Ryle/NCC game here in NKY and they mentioned a kid coming back from TJS and pitching in the game.

 

And then my personal experience with talking to two kids from Walton Verona. I don't thinking pitching year round is good at all, rest between starts or no rest.

[Play 2 Win]

When I say pitching year round. A lot of kids play HS ball, then on a summer team, then on a fall team, then indoors somewhere until HS ball again. Generally the indoor stuff is once a week from October til the end of December

[Play 2 Win]

I like to see them take Oct Nov and Dec off and let the arm recover.

[goherd96]

I have seen a handful of kids go through this type of repair, but it does seem to be gaining in frequency. Much of it probably has to do with coaches improperly using a kid on the way up through Little League, Babe Ruth, etc. Kids are being taught breaking balls too early, pitchers many times playing a position such as shortstop or catcher that requires multiple throws the day after a start. I have also known kids who have been playing in two different leagues at the same time and the two coaches doing their own thing with the players without regard for what he already did for his other team. These are the types of things that cause kids to shred their arms. In a recent survey of major league pitchers (guys like Curt Schilling, etc.) the average age that the players said they would allow their kids to start throwing breaking balls was around 14. How many kids out there do you know of that have started way before that????

[nees1212]

I have seen a handful of kids go through this type of repair, but it does seem to be gaining in frequency. Much of it probably has to do with coaches improperly using a kid on the way up through Little League, Babe Ruth, etc. Kids are being taught breaking balls too early, pitchers many times playing a position such as shortstop or catcher that requires multiple throws the day after a start. I have also known kids who have been playing in two different leagues at the same time and the two coaches doing their own thing with the players without regard for what he already did for his other team. These are the types of things that cause kids to shred their arms. In a recent survey of major league pitchers (guys like Curt Schilling, etc.) the average age that the players said they would allow their kids to start throwing breaking balls was around 14. How many kids out there do you know of that have started way before that????

 

:thumb: Little League/Knothole/Babe Ruth/Dads are the reasons behind these problems. They've got kids throwing breaking balls in 'C' ball nowadays, and for those unfamiliar with Knothole baseball, that's 8 years old. It's a shame. I coached a fall ball team last year for 'C' ball, and our rules were no breaking balls and pitchers pitched 2 innings max. I saw dad's (one in particular on my team that got under my skin) off to the side working with their kid on how to throw a breaking ball. 8 YEARS OLD.

[stickymitts]

:thumb: Little League/Knothole/Babe Ruth/Dads are the reasons behind these problems. They've got kids throwing breaking balls in 'C' ball nowadays, and for those unfamiliar with Knothole baseball, that's 8 years old. It's a shame. I coached a fall ball team last year for 'C' ball, and our rules were no breaking balls and pitchers pitched 2 innings max. I saw dad's (one in particular on my team that got under my skin) off to the side working with their kid on how to throw a breaking ball. 8 YEARS OLD.

True dat!!!:thumb:

[Play 2 Win]

Win at all cost. Unfortunately, they don't know the price until it's too late.

[BoxSeat]

I just read a thread on the Ryle/NCC game here in NKY and they mentioned a kid coming back from TJS and pitching in the game.

 

And then my personal experience with talking to two kids from Walton Verona. I don't thinking pitching year round is good at all, rest between starts or no rest.

 

My son is one of the WV players that had TJS in HS. I can assure it wasn't from overuse. Unfortunately for my son, it was a misdiagnosis. He saw doctors for several years about some elbow pain that started after one particular outing. They all told him it was tendonitis and that he couldn't do any more damage to it by playing. They told him to take some OTC pain relievers and carry on. Finally, after two years of frustration, we took him to a specialist, Dr. Kremchek. Within 5 minutes, he had diagnosed the problem and had him scheduled for an MRI to verify. He had severe damage to the ulnar collateral ligament and required surgery. The surgery revealed that the ligament was totally gone. Part of it had calcified from the initial injury and that in turn shredded the remaining ligament. They removed a segment of tendon from his leg and grafted it to the elbow bones. Two years later, after extensive rehab, he is playing college ball at Georgetown College. The arm, by all indications, it totally healthy. It was a difficult decision to make - whether to have the surgery or not. He could have lived a perfectly normal life without the surgery, but he really wanted the opportunity to play in college and couldn't continue with the pain he was having.

 

Not all of these injuries are from overuse. There are basically two scenarios, the overuse that has been discussed and the one time injury that does the damage. Don't assume that all of these kids are being abused. Coaches, parents and players are more informed than ever and most coaches are pretty conscientious. Personally, I think that these surgeries are more prevalent now because of better medicine. Doctors know what they're looking for and the surgery is more accessable. In my era, they just told you you had a tired arm and sent you home. Who knows how many 40-50 yr olds are running around that would have been TJS candidates. It wasn't an option.

[cshs81]

I read an article a while back stating that some kids were having it done despite not needing it. Why? It adds velocity.

[STRIKE3]

There will be instances, where pitchers have arm troubles, from improper mechanics, throwing motion, body type, lack of physical development and some instances overuse.

 

Tommy John surgery and the advent of diagnosis for shoulder/elbow injuries, has advanced in the last 25 years. A lot of players sustained rotator cuff, elbow or tendon damage but was probably labeled as a "sore arm". Now with Sports Medicine specialist and Sports Clinic, which are able to treat these type of arm injuries, they will be more prevalent.

 

Do some pitchers get overused, absolutely. The key is proper arm angle, mechanics, grip and arm conditioning. I know the Jobe exercises and therapeutic bands, combined with stretching and moderate weights, will strengthen the muscles/tendons, of the throwing arm.

 

Pitchers arms need time to recover and most are also position players, in youth leagues and high school teams.

[BoxSeat]

I read an article a while back stating that some kids were having it done despite not needing it. Why? It adds velocity.

 

That is REALLY sad! :cry: But somehow, I'm not surprised. First hand, I don't believe the 'possible' 3-4mph gain is worth the risk, pain, worry and expense. That is simply a very bad decision.

[stickymitts]

Pitchers arms need time to recover and most are also position players, in youth leagues and high school teams.

 

IMO, this is the largest factor. Overusage doesn't necessarily mean throwing 120 pitches. Even throwing 65 pitches and heading to centerfield or shortstop. Another major factor is kids throwing curveballs at a young age, IMO.

[STRIKE3]

IMO, this is the largest factor. Overusage doesn't necessarily mean throwing 120 pitches. Even throwing 65 pitches and heading to centerfield or shortstop. Another major factor is kids throwing curveballs at a young age, IMO.

I agree my friend and arm conditioning and care, is essential for any young pitcher. Conditioning before the season, during and maintenance after pitching is a must.