MLB can look at the pitch clock as a possible factor as it continues to investigate the pitching-injury epidemic — and they’ve been investigating since October, with more than 100 interviewed so far — but here’s what folks around the game say are the real culprits.
1. Chasing velocity the wrong way (the rise of throwing academies that overemphasize velocity could be a culprit).
2. Violent, unhealthy deliveries.
3. Max-effort bullpens, even in spring (because data is being recorded).
4. High-pressure games starting at 10 years old.
5. Specializing in baseball only from an early age (few multisport athletes).
6. An emphasis on speed and strikeouts in deciding who to draft, who to sign and who to pay.