Tommy John surgery has become something of an epidemic in this decade. In 2014 alone, 98 players underwent the infamous surgery. While modern medicine and technology have reduced recovery time and enhanced rehab programs, it is still a 12-16 month ordeal after surgery.
As of now, Noah Syndergaard, 23, is the only member of the “Fab 5” to avoid the surgery. Matt Harvey (26), Jacob deGrom (27), Steven Matz (24), and Zack Wheeler (25) have all undergone Tommy John Surgery.
Talking to the Bergen Record’s Bob Klapisch, Syndergaard says he’s unconcerned about being the next one to go under the knife.
“Everyone is afraid of it. You don’t want to lose a whole season, but a part of me wants to believe Tommy John surgery can be prevented.” There are countless reasons why a pitcher may need elbow surgery, but many people associate the procedure with hard throwers.
Syndergaard broke many radar guns last season, averaging 97.1 mph on his fastball, the highest in baseball among starting pitchers. While his massive stature has certainly earned him the nickname ‘Thor’, that is not the only reason why he throws so hard. He has phenomenal mechanics to go along with his phenomenal hair, which allows him to dominate as he does every five days.
Sports Illustrated‘s Tom Verducci isn’t convinced that Syndergaard will avoid Tommy John Surgery and in fact pegs him as one of five pitchers most at risk of the ‘Year After Effect,’ saying there is a strong possibility he will have elbow issues after an increased workload last season. I wholeheartedly disagree.
As Verducci mentioned, Syndergaard maintained his velocity the entire season, pointing out it actually increased in October, throwing his fastest pitch all season at 101.3 mph. Proof that he can maintain his velocity in a seven-month season (including October) at 23. Couple that with his stellar mechanics and physical prowess, and all are legitimate reasons to relax all this Tommy John talk.
There are many, many reasons why pitchers have elbow issues, but most of the time, it is mechanics. Still, manager Terry Collins offers a different paradigm. “I’ve had some of the greatest surgeons tell me, ‘If they’re going to break, they’re going to break. You do what you can, but some things just aren’t in your control.”
The bottom line is, I think Noah Syndergaard will be fine. I am a college pitcher and experienced pitching coach, so I am confident in saying that his mechanics are exceptional. Proof of that lies with his late-inning velocity and solid command of the strike zone. So, no, I do not think he is at risk of the ‘year after effect.’ It is entirely possible he could have elbow issues, as it is with any pitcher. But there are many ways to prevent it, including having a strong body, a focused and targeted conditioning program, and of course good mechanics, all of which Syndergaard possesses.
In his rookie season, Syndergaard went 9-7 with a 3.24 ERA, striking out 166 batters in 150 innings. In four postseason appearances, he went 2-1 with a 3.32 ERA and 26 strikeouts in 19 innings.
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