Clark of the MLBPA – Teams need to change pitcher usage to reduce injuries

LOS ANGELES (AP) — MLBPA executive director Tony Clark raised concerns Friday about how pitchers are used in today's game and placed the responsibility on teams to keep them healthy.

“The conversations we've had with our players have shown that the decision-makers on a given team will continue to make the decisions they have made unless or until you draw a line in the sand and force change.” “Making that means the pitchers – starters and relievers – are performing at maximum capacity for the period of time they have,” Clark said on the field at Dodger Stadium before Game 1 of the World Series.

“As soon as they seem to run out of gas, as the data suggests, they recycle it and burn out another jug.”

Given the diminished importance of starting players and the increase in pitching injuries, the issue is also a concern for the league. MLB has been studying the issue throughout the season and hopes to implement its findings to reduce the number of injuries.

Clark says he believes teams have a role to play in this, too.

“The players do what they’re told,” Clark said. “If players were told for the first 150 years of the league's existence that the value was a good start and pitching six innings or pitching deep in the game… that's exactly what the players would do. Clubs are doing it. Telling players that this is no longer the value proposition and therefore players will do what is asked of them.”

Refined training habits have helped increase fastball velocity over the past decade, leading to higher strikeout totals and more injuries. It is becoming increasingly common for pitchers to undergo Tommy John surgery, with some having to undergo the procedure multiple times. The league has even flirted with incentives to address the problem, but Clark says he believes teams will do whatever it takes to win — and so is pushing for maximum effort rather than efficiency.

“The development of starting pitching and achieving strong starting pitching — that was the value proposition for 150 years in the past — has changed,” he said. “So until the decision makers realize that taking pitchers out day after day because of what they use or what they ask of them is no longer the best way to treat their players, we will see a lack of change .”

Clark also expressed satisfaction that the A's stadium in Sacramento will have a grass surface to reduce the risk of injury during the hot summer months.

Meanwhile, the MLBPA is taking a wait-and-see approach to the damage to Tropicana Field due to Hurricane Milton. If the Rays can't play there in 2025, Clark wants to make sure the team is in a safe environment at a spring or minor league facility.

“It starts with the playing surface and the security of the ballpark itself,” Clark said. “Make sure you can do the job you need to do and that the surface and the ballpark are up to major league standards.”

It is not yet clear whether Tropicana Field will be playable next season.