Spring training began this week, and Major League Baseball quickly faced a surge of hamate bone injuries affecting several key players: Francisco Lindor of the Mets, Corbin Carroll from the Diamondbacks, and Jackson Holliday of the Orioles. Lindor and Carroll are anticipated to return by the start of the season, but Holliday’s recovery timeline is expected to stretch ‘measured in weeks’ after the season begins, as stated by baseball operations president Mike Elias.

The prevalent question arises: why are these injuries so common in baseball? Contrary to popular belief, they’re not exclusively a baseball issue. For instance, golfer Bryson DeChambeau suffered a similar injury in 2022, demonstrating that it can occur in various sports due to equipment impact.

Dr. Rodney Benner, an orthopedic surgeon in Indianapolis, elaborates, “This injury is distinct because it typically occurs from a direct impact on the hamate bone’s most prominent part, known as the hook. The usual cause is a crash, like when a bat strikes the hamate during a swing. Such injuries can also occur in golf or hockey when the implement strikes the area.”

Dr. Benner suggests, “While there are protective pads available, they do not fully guarantee against fractures.”

Discussion around the concern of strength loss in players returning from hamate injuries reveals that extensive historical data does not support a significant decrease in power post-recovery.

Examples illustrate that players like Francisco Cervelli and Mark Reynolds successfully returned to their pre-injury performance levels, while others like José Ramírez and Tommy Pham maintained or recaptured their skills after adjusting back to play.

The growing trend of players getting larger and stronger could mean a continued rise in hamate injuries, but the surgery remains straightforward, and players can usually bounce back quickly.

The hope is that the same swift recovery applies for Lindor, Carroll, and Holliday.