During the 2002 Little League World Series, millions watched on TV as two young pitchers each threw well over a hundred pitches during their semi-final games. That many pitches from a growing kid can mean serious shoulder and elbow injuries, leading to a spike in so-called “Tommy John” operations in teens and children. Ron Berler writes in his upcoming New York Times Magazine article that this trend has been ballooning steadily for the past decade. And it’s not always injured kids who are going under the knife.
The World is an independent newsroom. We’re not funded by billionaires; instead, we rely on readers and listeners like you. As a listener, you’re a crucial part of our team and our global community. Your support is vital to running our nonprofit newsroom, and we can’t do this work without you. Will you support The World with a gift today? Donations made between now and Dec. 31 will be matched 1:1. Thanks for investing in our work!