The Velocity Explosion Is Real—And So Are the Injuries
MLB pitchers are throwing harder than ever—and getting injured more than ever. In this Sore to Soaring Podcast episode, Coach Leo Young and Dr. Jason Zaremski (UF Health Sports Medicine) break down alarming trends in velocity and injury rates. From skyrocketing Tommy John surgeries to the new “normal” of 95+ mph, this blog explores what’s really happening behind the rise in speed. The Velocity Explosion Is Real—And So Are the Injuries Throwing 95 mph used to be elite. Now, it’s the baseline. As velocity continues to rise in Major League Baseball, so do the injuries—and the numbers aren’t subtle. Coach Leo Young and Dr. Jason Zaremski, MD, dig into the data, including studies from MLB itself, that reveal a dramatic spike in injury rates and surgical interventions.
INJURY PREVENTION & PERFORMANCE BUILDING STRONGER ATHLETES
Coach Leo Young
7/1/20252 min read
The Injury Surge: Hard Data, Not Hype
MLB’s own research shows pitching injuries have jumped 128.77% since 2005.
Let that sink in: injuries didn’t just rise—they more than doubled.
Even more concerning? The number of players drafted in the first 10 rounds who had already undergone Tommy John surgery jumped from 3 in 2011 to 23 in recent years—a 667% increase.
We’re not just seeing more injuries. We’re seeing more injuries before players even make it.
Do you think the rising obsession with velocity is worth the injury risk? Drop your thoughts in the video comments.
Velocity Is Up—Way Up
At first glance, a jump in fastball velocity from 91 to 94 mph might not seem dramatic to the average parent.
But for those who’ve caught bullpens or scouted games, that’s a massive leap.
Coach Leo, a former catcher, puts it plainly:
“When they start tickling 94–95, that ball disappears. It’s not the same game anymore.”
And the data backs it up:
In 2017, about 20% of MLB pitchers threw 95+
By 2024, that number hit nearly 33%
Those throwing 98+ tripled—from around 1.2% to 4–5%
Velocity has become the norm, not the outlier. And with it comes increased stress, load, and mechanical breakdown.
We’re Not Built for This—But We’re Doing It Anyway
“There’s a reason throwing 100 mph used to be rare,” says Dr. Z. “It’s because the human body isn’t designed to do it over and over again.”
But now, with weighted ball programs, performance labs, and recruiting pressure, young pitchers are trying to match pro velocity without the recovery tools, structure, or physical maturity needed to withstand it.
We’ve raised the ceiling—but lowered the guardrails.
Key Takeaways for Parents and Coaches
✅ MLB velocity is increasing—but so are Tommy John surgeries
✅ 94–95 mph is now “average,” pressuring youth players to chase dangerous standards
✅ Injury risk doesn’t start in college—it’s built years earlier through volume and velocity obsession
✅ Throwing hard without a full system of recovery and strength is a recipe for injury
✅ Smart programs train for velocity—but never at the cost of long-term health
How Sore to Soaring Keeps Velocity in Check
At Sore to Soaring, we don’t train just to throw harder—we train to throw longer.
We help pitchers build the mechanics, strength, and recovery habits needed to earn velocity safely, and we educate families on the real trade-offs of chasing speed too early.
Because throwing 95 isn’t worth it if you don’t make it past 17.
Support our work at: www.SoreToSoaring.org
Disclaimer
The views shared in this article are for informational purposes only and do not represent an endorsement by Lupos Initiative Inc., DBA Sore to Soaring. Always consult a qualified professional before implementing any training, recovery, or medical plan. No affiliation or compensation exists between Sore to Soaring and any for-profit entity mentioned.
To learn more about Dr. Jason Zaremski and UF Health Sports Medicine, visit:
https://ufhealth.org
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