In April, Senior Vice President of Clinical Excellence Dr. Chuck Thigpen sat down with Leo Morgenstern from Just Baseball to discuss pitcher arm health as Major League Baseball ushered in its new pitch clock rule in the article, “Dr. Chuck Thigpen on Arm Health in the Age of the Pitch Clock.” The pair discussed concerns over player adaptation and potential risk for injury, especially for relief and middle-relief pitchers who experience less recovery time than starting pitchers.

The general consensus was that there was and still is not enough data to understand the rule’s true impact but that players could offset the risk for injury with proper preparation. While training scenarios do not fully mimic real-life game situations, a well-developed training program allows players to understand how they will recover in between pitches as well as in between outings.

Morgenstern also asked the credited research scientist about the possibilities of less injuries as a result of shortened time on the field. Thigpen was doubtful that a shorter game time would reduce arm injuries, especially for pitchers. However, he was willing to entertain the idea that there was a possibility to see fewer lower extremity injuries such as a hamstring strain.

In the end, though the pair agreed that there is not enough data to fully understand the consequences of the new rule but that it would be exciting to see as the season unfolded.

Read the full article here: Just Baseball “Dr. Chuck Thigpen on Arm Health in the Age of the Pitch Clock”