Injury Risk Due to Collisions in Major League Baseball

Abstract

Purpose is to determine if Major League Baseball plays at risk for collisions have higher injury rates than typical base running plays. 2002-2011 Major League Baseball play data was obtained: non-force putouts by catcher at home plate (Catcher Tag Out), groundball force outs at 2(nd) base with less than 2 outs (Double Play Attempt), and the control play, outfield assisted non-force putouts of runners attempting to advance to 2(nd) or 3(rd) base (Outfield Assist 2(nd)/3(rd)). This list was cross-referenced with 2002-2011 disabled lists to see if an involved player went on the disabled list the day of or day after the play. An on-line search for each match determined if the injury was attributable to that play. Rate calculated per 1 000 plays, severity in days on disabled list. Injury rate and severity for Catcher Tag Out was 6.98 and 45.6 respectively, Double Play Attempt 0.42 and 41.3, Outfield Assist 2(nd/)3(rd) 1.56 and 47.0. Injury rate for Catcher Tag Out was higher (P = 0.03) than the control while Double Play Attempt trended lower (P = 0.05). There was no difference in severity. Catcher Tag Outs carry greater injury risk than typical base running plays. Major League Baseball should consider prohibiting base path collisions.

Mild Traumatic Brain Injury in Major and Minor League Baseball Players

“…One study has shown that home plate outs are more likely to result in injury than similar plays at second and third bases. 15 It has been suggested that the reason catchers experience a higher percentage of concussions is that they have a higher overall injury rate compared with other positions. An ad hoc exploration of our data revealed that this is not the case.…”

“…One study has shown that home plate outs are more likely to result in injury than similar plays at second and third bases. 15…”

Increased Risk of Fracture, Dislocation, and Hospitalization Are Associated With Collision in Contact Sports

“…The 3 sports included in the NCC group were chosen with the intention of including contact sports that, on average, range from a low to high degree of contact based on previous studies. 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 The inclusion of baseball serves the NCC group as a contact sport with a low degree and frequency of contact 15 , 19 , 20 , 21 ; basketball serves as a contact sport with an intermediate degree of contact 15 , 19 ; soccer serves as a contact sport with a high degree and frequency of contact, but wherein collision between players is prohibited. 16 , 17 Notably, all the sports included in the sample are team-based sports with a high frequency of injuries due to falls or incidental contact with other players and/or the sporting equipment (balls, pucks, sticks, etc.).…”

Epidemiology and Impact of Hand and Wrist Injuries in Major and Minor League Baseball

“…Furthermore, using only players who had an injury severity that warranted placement on the DL does not capture all injuries and is subject to nonmedical factors that are weighed into the decision to place a player onto the DL. 1-3,5,7 Nonetheless, information obtained from evaluating MLB’s DL can play a role in injury prevention. For example, in 2016, MLB and the MLB Players Association adopted a rule modification to reduce the number of intentional collisions while sliding into second base to break up a double play.…”