re: Tommy John - Not If, but When?

Advances in strength straining and the science of the game that has made a pretty good big league fastball in the mid 1990’s anywhere from 90-92 mph to today where that would be considered below average with 94-97 as the norm with many that can routinely hit 100 mph. The spike on breaking balls has also greatly increased and to do that requires more torque on the elbow. Also in the last 30 years the widespread use of the cutter has upped the amount of elbow injuries. Pitchers that don’t have the natural mid 90’s heat could get by throwing cut fastballs at 90 relying on movement over velocity. That pitch has ended the careers of countless players much like the almost now extinct splitter. As a Dodger fan I remember growing up watching Hideo Nomo come from Japan in a time where that didn’t happen he started the now rich pipeline of Japanese talent much like Chan Ho Park did for the Koreans. Nomo had the nastiest forkball I’ve still ever seen in the begging of his career when he was throwing 93-95. In just a few short seasons injuries to his elbow and shoulder had him topping out at 90 on a good day and a shell of his former self. This is only going to continue too. Kids are going to get stronger and stronger but there’s only so strong you can make soft tissue.