Youth Baseball Sees Surge in Tommy John Surgeries

Doctors warn of alarming trend of young athletes needing elbow reconstruction procedures

Apr. 14, 2026 at 12:26am

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A translucent x-ray image revealing the internal structure of a young baseball player's elbow, with the torn ligament glowing faintly to convey the serious nature of the injury and the need for complex reconstructive surgery.An x-ray view of a young athlete's damaged elbow joint highlights the alarming rise in Tommy John surgeries among youth baseball players.Oklahoma City Today

A growing number of youth baseball players in Oklahoma City and across the country are requiring Tommy John surgery, a complex elbow reconstruction procedure typically reserved for professional and elite college athletes. Doctors are sounding the alarm about the alarming trend of young athletes sustaining serious arm injuries that require this invasive surgery.

Why it matters

Tommy John surgery was originally developed to treat professional baseball players, but the procedure is now being performed on younger and younger athletes as overuse injuries and improper throwing mechanics take a toll on developing arms. This trend raises concerns about the long-term health impacts on young athletes and the sustainability of youth sports participation.

The details

Tommy John surgery involves replacing a torn ulnar collateral ligament in the elbow with a tendon from elsewhere in the body. The procedure was first pioneered in 1974 to treat major league pitcher Tommy John, but has become increasingly common among high school and even middle school baseball players. Doctors attribute the rise to year-round travel ball, specialization in a single sport at a young age, and improper throwing mechanics that put too much stress on young arms.

  • In the past decade, the number of Tommy John surgeries performed on youth athletes has risen dramatically.
  • Doctors have seen a 500% increase in the number of Tommy John procedures on high school baseball players over the last 15 years.

The players

Tommy John

The major league pitcher whose name is associated with the elbow reconstruction surgery.

KFOR 4 Oklahoma City

The local news station that originally reported on this trend in youth baseball.

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What they’re saying

“We're seeing kids as young as 12 or 13 needing Tommy John surgery, which is really alarming. Their arms just aren't developed enough to handle the rigors of year-round, high-intensity pitching.”

— Dr. Samantha Walters, Orthopedic Surgeon

What’s next

Doctors recommend that young pitchers limit their throwing to 80-100 pitches per week, take regular rest periods, and work on improving their throwing mechanics to avoid overuse injuries. Parents and coaches will also need to be vigilant about monitoring young athletes' arm health and not pushing them too hard too soon.

The takeaway

The rise in Tommy John surgeries among youth baseball players is a troubling trend that highlights the need for better education, injury prevention, and oversight in youth sports. Protecting the long-term health of young athletes should be the top priority as the culture of specialization and year-round play continues to grow.