Retrospective Analysis of Ulnar Collateral Ligament Reconstructions in Major League Baseball Pitchers: A Comparison of the “Tall and Fall” Versus “Drop and Drive” Pitching Styles

Abstract

Background: Previous pilot research has investigated differences in elbow valgus torque between the “tall and fall” (TF) and “drop and drive” (DD) pitching styles. Whether one of these pitching styles is associated with a greater rate of ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction (UCLR) is currently unknown. Purpose: To determine the proportion of Major League Baseball (MLB) pitchers using the TF and DD pitching styles who underwent UCLR over a 10-year period. Study Design: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: The demographic characteristics of pitchers who underwent UCLR between 2007 and 2017 were obtained via the open-source database MLB Player Analysis Tommy John Surgery List. Other information, such as previous UCLR and pitching videos and graphics, was obtained from other open-source databases. A comprehensive, 2-dimensional, kinesiology-based multicomponent definition of each pitching style was formulated and used to categorize the included pitchers into the TF and DD groups. Statistical comparisons and contrasts were made using chi-square and Pearson correlation tests. Results: Included were 223 MLB pitchers (mean ± SD age, 27.5 ± 3.6 years; body mass index [BMI], 27.6 ± 2.2; throwing velocity, 92.9 ± 2.6 mph [149.5 ± 4.2 km/h]) who underwent UCLR between 2007 and 2017. Of these pitchers, 162 were categorized as TF pitchers (72.6%) and 61 as DD pitchers (27.4%). Pitching velocity for injured pitchers was significantly correlated to BMI ( P < .001). We found no significant associations of pitching style with year of UCLR ( P = .941), BMI ( P = .549), age ( P = .647), handedness ( P = .501), or average pitch velocity ( P = .921). Conclusion: The study findings demonstrated that a higher proportion of UCL-injured MLB pitchers (72.6%) used the TF pitching style. Further research is needed to explore the potential association between pitching style and UCL injury.