Tommy John Rises: The UCL Injury Epidemic
Why Youth Baseball UCL Injuries Are Exploding – And How to Stop Them
If you’ve been around youth baseball long enough, you’ve seen it.
A 10-year-old grabs his elbow mid-game.
The doctor says three dreaded words: UCL tear.
This used to be rare.
Now? It’s one of the biggest problems in youth baseball.
I’m Dr. Kam, a sports physical therapist who works with baseball players every single day.
In this article, you’ll learn why UCL injuries are skyrocketing, what’s really causing them, and what you can do to protect young arms before it’s too late.
The Scope of Youth Baseball UCL Injuries
In 2023 alone, more professional pitchers underwent Tommy John surgery than in the entire decade of the 1990s.
And it’s not just pros.
Twenty percent of players ages 9 to 15 seek medical care for elbow pain every year.
Half of those injuries are preventable.
By high school graduation, nearly one in four baseball players has already had a UCL injury.
Velocity Goals Are Pushing Elbows Too Far
Since 2002, the average MLB fastball has climbed by 3.5 mph.
Velocity is king, even at 10, 11, and 12 years old.
But speed comes at a cost.
The faster you throw, the more stress your elbow absorbs.
This creates small tears in the ligament that can build into a full UCL tear over time.
Poor Mechanics From Early Velocity Chasing
Radar guns are everywhere.
Kids try to throw harder than their growing bodies can handle.
Instead of learning safe mechanics, they learn how to muscle velocity.
This overcompensation leads to dangerous throwing patterns and massive elbow stress.
Year-Round Baseball Means No Recovery
Many young athletes now play baseball year-round without rest.
No other sport demands so much from one joint without a break.
The elbow never gets time to heal.
That’s why overuse is one of the top causes of UCL injury in youth baseball players.
Pressure to Play Through Pain
The chase for scholarships and pro opportunities makes players ignore pain.
They hide injuries, hoping to “tough it out.”
By the time they speak up, the damage is often severe.
Some end up with surgery before they graduate high school.
The Human Cost Behind These Numbers
Every statistic represents a real athlete.
I recently worked with a 17-year-old pitcher who had already undergone two elbow surgeries.
His talent wasn’t the issue.
His arm was simply pushed beyond its limits too early.
How We Protect the Future of Baseball
Youth baseball UCL injuries don’t have to be a career-ending trend.
Education, workload limits, and smart training can make all the difference.
Parents and coaches can start by respecting pain, enforcing rest, and focusing on mechanics over radar gun numbers.
What You Need to Take Away
The question was: Why are UCL injuries exploding in youth baseball?
We looked at the stats, the chase for velocity, poor mechanics, year-round play, and the pressure to perform.
All of these create the perfect storm for elbow injuries.
I’m Dr. Kam – a double fellowship-trained sports physical therapist – and I help baseball players recover, throw harder, and stay healthy.
If you want to dive deeper, watch my latest video on preventing UCL injuries in youth baseball and share it with a parent or coach who needs to hear this.
Watch here
Ready to protect your arm and take your game to the next level?
I work 1-on-1 with baseball players of all ages—both online and in-person—to recover from injuries, build velocity, and stay healthy for the long term.
👉 Click here to book your free baseball injury assessment today.
If you’re not yet ready to book a free assessment, then you might be interested in these articles:
These resources will help you start taking care of your arm today while learning how to train smarter and avoid injuries.
