Summer Pitch: How to Prevent Baseball Injuries This Season

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons share expert tips to help players stay safe on the field

ROSEMONT, Ill., July 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Baseball and softball are cherished summer pastimes for millions of Americans. Whether they're signed up for the office softball league or cheering on a little leaguer at weekend tournaments, hitting the field is often part of the season's fun.

But with the thrill of the game comes the risk of injury. Each year, baseball-related injuries send nearly 110,000 young athletes to the emergency room¹. Common injuries include sprains, strains, fractures, and overuse injuries to the shoulder and elbow.

"We're seeing more young athletes with overuse injuries from playing the same sport year-round without enough time for rest and recovery," said orthopaedic surgeon Steven B. Cohen, MD, FAAOS. "Simple steps like cross-training, limiting pitching and focusing on proper mechanics can help prevent injuries that could sideline players for an entire season, or even impact their long-term joint health."

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) encourages players of all ages and skill levels to follow these important tips to stay safe and injury-free on the diamond.

For Players:

Hydrate
Drink plenty of fluids before, during and after the game. Proper hydration helps prevent muscle cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke—especially during hot summer days on the field.

Warm up and cool down with purpose
Don't skip the warm-up. A few minutes of light jogging followed by dynamic stretching can help increase blood flow to muscles and reduce the risk of strains and sprains. Gentle stretching after the game can help maintain flexibility and prevent stiffness or soreness the next day.

Use the appropriate equipment
Wear properly fitted gear, including helmets, gloves, cleats and protective cups. Make sure bats and other equipment are the right size and weight for your age and skill level.

Strengthen the core and lower body
A solid lower-body foundation can ease the strain on your upper body during explosive movements. During training, focus on exercises that emphasize:

• • Hip mobility and glute activation – think lunges and monster walks
  • Core strength and control – like planks and medicine ball throws
  • Balance and quickness – such as ladder drills and single-leg hops

 For Coaches and Parents:

Prevent overuse
Overuse injuries, particularly in pitchers, are on the rise. Follow guidelines on pitching limits, don't allow kids to play on multiple teams in the same season, and encourage participation in a variety of sports throughout the year to give overused muscles and joints time to recover.

Base-running safety
Avoid collisions by teaching players to run in the proper lanes and slide correctly. Coaches should reinforce proper base-running technique, including staying in the base path and sliding correctly, to avoid collisions and prevent injuries

Call for it
Clear communication is key to preventing on-field collisions. Encourage players to loudly call for pop-ups and fly balls so they don't crash into their teammates. Collisions can lead to head, neck or orthopaedic injuries.

For more information on injury prevention and additional safety tips, visit www.OrthoInfo.org.

About the AAOS
With more than 39,000 members, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons is the world's largest medical association of musculoskeletal specialists. The AAOS is the trusted leader in advancing musculoskeletal health. It provides the highest quality, most comprehensive education to help orthopaedic surgeons and allied health professionals at every career level best treat patients in their daily practices. AAOS is the source for information on bone and joint conditions, treatments, and related musculoskeletal health care issues; and it leads the health care discussion on advancing quality.

Follow the AAOS on Facebook, X, LinkedIn and Instagram.

¹ Johns Hopkins Medicine. Sports Injury Statistics. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/sports-injuries/sports-injury-statistics. Accessed July 14, 2025.

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SOURCE American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons