Clara ThompsonThe Chicago Cubs and Pittsburgh Pirates open their Memorial Day series with a combined 11 pitchers on the injured list — the majority of them sidelined by elbow, forearm, or tricep damage. As right-handers Ben Brown and Carmen Mlodzinski take the mound at PNC Park on May 26, 2026, the story everyone is watching is who is absent. And their injuries should concern every Canadian athlete who has ever thrown a baseball, served a tennis ball, or swung a golf club.
The Scale of MLB's 2026 Elbow Epidemic
The Cubs alone have Justin Steele, Porter Hodge, Shelby Miller, Riley Martin, and Cade Horton all sidelined by elbow or forearm problems — four on the 60-Day IL, which means none will return before August. Hunter Harvey is out with a tricep strain. Matthew Boyd is nursing a knee, and Christopher Austin is also on the 60-Day IL. The Pirates mirror this: star pitcher Jared Jones, one of the most anticipated young arms in the National League, is on the 60-Day IL with elbow trouble of his own.
This is not a coincidence. MLB has been tracking a surge in elbow surgeries for the better part of a decade. In 2025, the league recorded a record number of Tommy John procedures — the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) reconstruction surgery that typically requires 12 to 18 months of recovery. Now, in the first two months of the 2026 season, the injury lists across baseball show the trend is accelerating.
According to Public Health Agency of Canada, overuse injuries of the upper limb have risen sharply in adults who participate in overhead sports and recreational activities. The Cubs-Pirates casualty list is a concentrated example of what is happening in sports at every level.
What Is a UCL Tear — and Why Are Pitchers So Vulnerable?
The ulnar collateral ligament runs along the inner elbow and is critical to the throwing motion. When a pitcher releases a fastball, the elbow absorbs between 40 and 60 Newton-metres of torque with each throw — a stress level that the UCL cannot sustain indefinitely. Over months and seasons, micro-tears accumulate. Eventually the ligament partially or completely ruptures.
For elite pitchers the risk is amplified by pitch volume and velocity. Cade Horton, a highly regarded Cubs prospect, was sitting mid-90s before landing on the injured list. Environmental factors add to the load — as explored in our coverage of how pitching conditions affect arm health across MLB venues. Justin Steele had been one of Chicago's most trusted starters before this setback. For Jared Jones in Pittsburgh, elbow trouble has robbed the team of what should have been a breakout season.
But UCL damage is not exclusive to professional athletes. Youth baseball players who pitch year-round, competitive softball players, tennis players, and even recreational golfers can develop the same progressive wear.
5 Warning Signs That Demand a Specialist Consultation
The danger with elbow injuries is how gradually they develop — until one throw causes a complete rupture. These five signs warrant a prompt visit to a sports medicine specialist:
1. Inner elbow pain during throwing or gripping. Pain on the medial side of the elbow during overhead activity is the most common early indicator. Many athletes dismiss it as normal soreness and play through it, which accelerates structural damage.
2. A sudden "pop" followed by weakness. A complete UCL rupture often announces itself with an audible or felt popping sensation and an immediate inability to throw or grip with normal force. Stop all activity immediately if this happens.
3. Numbness in the ring and pinky fingers. The ulnar nerve runs adjacent to the UCL. When the ligament is inflamed or torn, nerve compression can cause tingling or numbness in the fourth and fifth fingers — a symptom athletes frequently attribute to something else entirely.
4. Swelling on the inner elbow after activity. Visible or palpable swelling on the medial side of the joint following throwing or gripping suggests structural, not muscular, damage. Ice and rest may mask it temporarily, but the damage progresses without treatment.
5. Gradual loss of velocity or control. The subtlest warning sign. When athletes protect a sore elbow subconsciously, mechanics change and performance drops. In a pitcher, this shows up as lost velocity. In a recreational player, it appears as reduced distance or accuracy over weeks.
Conservative Treatment vs. Tommy John Surgery
Not every UCL injury requires surgery. Partial tears in athletes who do not throw at maximum velocity — weekend softball players, recreational tennis participants, adult baseball league pitchers who top out at 75 mph — often respond well to physiotherapy, rest, modified activity, and in some cases platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections.
Full UCL ruptures in high-demand throwing athletes typically require Tommy John surgery: the torn ligament is replaced with a tendon graft, usually from the forearm or the patient's hamstring. Recovery is 12 to 18 months of careful, structured rehabilitation.
The critical variable is timing. Athletes who continue training through partial UCL tears dramatically increase the likelihood of full rupture. Justin Steele almost certainly had early symptoms weeks before going on Chicago's 60-Day IL. Earlier assessment might have allowed for conservative management and a shorter absence.
Why Early Expert Consultation Matters
The Cubs and Pirates situation illustrates a principle that applies far beyond professional baseball: persistent elbow pain that alters how you throw, grip, or lift is not normal training soreness. It is a clinical signal worth investigating.
A sports medicine physician or orthopaedic specialist can order an MRI to evaluate UCL integrity and determine the appropriate course — rest, rehabilitation, or surgical referral. In Canada, sports medicine walk-in clinics operate in every major city, and a family physician referral to an orthopaedic specialist typically takes days rather than weeks when imaging supports urgency.
For any Canadian athlete — from a youth pitcher in Ontario to an adult recreational league player in British Columbia — getting that evaluation early is the single most effective step you can take to protect your arm and your season in 2026.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult a licensed sports medicine physician or orthopaedic specialist for diagnosis and treatment recommendations specific to your condition.
