Minor League Baseball Players Research Articles

Knowledgeable Confrontations: How to Challenge Interview Participants With Information and Data

This article theorizes the use of knowledge in interviews, focusing on confronting interview participants with knowledge generated from prior research. This article explains when confronting participants with knowledge is ethically and epistemologically preferable to alternatives such as debriefing or not disseminating. We share examples from studies where minor league baseball players read machine learning predictions of their chances of reaching the major leagues, and esports competitors viewed illustrations of the prize earning distribution in their chosen game. The article elaborates on the ethical considerations of using confrontational knowledge in interviews and identifies three guidelines for using the strategy.

The Burden of Back and Neck Strains and Sprains in Professional Baseball Players.

A retrospective case series study. To analyze the epidemiology of diagnoses of back and neck strains and sprains among Major League (MLB) and Minor League (MiLB) Baseball players. Baseball players perform unique sets of repetitive movements that may predispose to neck and back strains and sprains. Data are lacking concerning the epidemiology of these diagnoses in this population. De-identified data on neck/back strains and sprains were collected from all MLB and MiLB teams from 2011 to 2016 using the MLB-commissioned Health and Injury Tracking System database. Diagnosis rates of conditions related to cervical, thoracic, and lumbar musculature and their impact on days missed due to injury, player participation, and season or career-ending status were assessed. Injury rates were reported as injuries per 1000 athlete exposures (AEs). There were 3447 cases of neck/back strains and sprains in professional baseball players from 2011 to 2016. Seven hundred twenty-one of these occurred in MLB versus 2726 in MiLB. Of injuries 136 were season-ending (26 in MLB, 110 in MiLB); 22 were career-ending (2 in MLB, 20 in MiLB). The total days missed were 39,118 (8838 from MLB and 30,280 from MiLB). Excluding season or career-ending injuries, the mean days missed were 11.8 (12.7 and 11.6 in MLB and MiLB, respectively). The median days missed were 4 (3 and 5 in MLB and MiLB, respectively). Combining MLB and MiLB, the pitcher injury rate was 1.893 per 1000 AEs versus 0.743 per 1000 Aes for other position players (P < 0.0001). There was a high incidence of neck/back strains and sprains in MLB and MiLB players, with nearly 40,000 aggregate days missed in our 6-year study period. The median days missed were lower than the mean days missed, indicating rightward outliers. Pitchers had over double the rates of injuries compared with other position players. Level III.

Unrealistic Expectations and Future Status Coercion in Minor League Baseball Players’ Future-Oriented Labor

This study examines minor league baseball players’ future-oriented labor by interviewing 44 baseball players and collecting data on 8,000 minor league baseball players’ careers. Minor league baseball players’ expectations of reaching Major League Baseball impacted how they evaluated their work in the present, leading them to tolerate unfair pay and working conditions. We show that players’ expectations of reaching Major League Baseball were moderately unrealistic, partly due to managerial practices encouraging unrealistic expectations. This study contributes to labor research by showing that future-oriented labor ideology is based on unrealistic expectations that employers can promote to create opportunities for future status coercion.

Poster 205: Performance and Return to Sport Following Medial Ulnar Collateral Ligament Repair with Internal Brace Augmentation in Professional Baseball Players

Objectives: Medial ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) reconstruction (UCLR) has been the gold standard treatment for symptomatic UCL injuries in throwing athletes. Recently, a novel technique of UCL repair with suture augmentation has been described and shown promising biomechanical as well as clinical results in a few small series of nonprofessional athletes. An added advantage of this technique over UCLR is that it affords the potential ability to return to competitive throwing with an accelerated timeline of 6-7 months as opposed to 12-18 months. No prior work has described the outcomes of this technique in professional athletes. This study aimed to evaluate the frequency and rate of return to prior level of sport as well as athletic performance of professional baseball players following UCL repair with Internal Brace augmentation. Methods: This study included all professional Major League Baseball (MLB) and Minor League Baseball (MiLB) players who underwent primary UCL repair with Internal Brace from January 2016 to June 2021. Demographic and performance data were recorded for each player. Performance metrics were then compared from one year preinjury against one year postoperative metrics. The return to play date was recorded. Univariate statistical analysis was performed to compare preinjury to postoperative performance (p&lt; 0.05 considered statistically significant). Results: Fifteen players met inclusion criteria (8 MLB and 7 MiLB). Mean age was 28.2 +/- 4.06 years at time of surgery. There were 10 pitchers and 5 position players. All injuries were to the dominant extremity. No players underwent revision surgery during the study period. 93.3% (14/15) of players returned to sport and eventually prior level of competition. Average time to return to sport was 11.5 +/- 4.27 months and average time to prior level of competition was 12.1 +/- 4.61 months. When comparing competitive performance of players that returned successfully, one year preinjury to one year postoperatively, there was no statistically significant difference observed in performance [Table 1]. Conclusions: This study demonstrates promising early results of UCL repair with Internal Brace augmentation in professional baseball players. 93.3% of players were able to return to sport in under 12 months. All players, pitcher and position, that returned to sport were able to return to their prior level of play. No statistically significant drop in performance was observed in players that were able to return to play. Further clinical evaluation of UCL repair with Internal Brace augmentation and direct comparison of this procedure with UCL reconstruction is warranted. [Table: see text]

Epidemiology of Lumbar Spine Conditions in Professional Baseball Players.

A retrospective case series study. To analyze the epidemiology and burden of diagnoses of lumbar spinal conditions affecting Major League Baseball (MLB) and Minor League Baseball players. Lumbar spinal conditions are a common cause of low back pain in the general population and can be caused by participation in sports and athletics. Data concerning the epidemiology of these injuries in professional baseball players are limited. We collected deidentified MLB and Minor League Baseball data concerning lumbar spine conditions (lumbar disk herniations, lumbar degenerative disease, or pars conditions) from 2011 to 2017 using the MLB-commissioned Health and Injury Tracking System database. Data concerning days missed because of injury, need for surgery, and player participation and career-ending status were assessed. Injury rates were reported as injuries per 1000 athlete exposures in concordance with prior studies. Over 2011-2017, 5948 days of play were missed because of 206 lumbar spine-related injuries, of which 60 (29.1%) were season ending. Twenty-seven (13.1%) of these injuries required surgery. The most common injury among both pitchers and position players were lumbar disk herniations (45, 44.1% and 41, 39.4%, respectively). More surgeries were performed for lumbar disk herniations and degenerative disk disease compared with pars conditions (74% and 18.5% vs. 3.7%). Injury rates for pitchers was significantly higher than those of other position players 0.111 per 1000 AEs versus 0.040 per 1000 AEs ( P <0.0001). Injuries requiring surgery did not vary significantly by league, age group, or player position. Lumbar spine-related injuries incurred substantial disability and days missed from play in professional baseball players. Lumbar disk herniations were the most common injury, and together with pars conditions led to higher rates of surgery compared with degenerative conditions. III.

Why Do Unfairly Paid Trainees Persist? Pay Fairness and Human Capital Investment in Development Leagues

Pay fairness and human capital theories make different predictions about trainees’ occupational turnover in situations where trainees perceive unfair pay but receive huge potential returns from training. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine how pay fairness and human capital investment combined to explain why trainees are motivated to persist in employment when they perceive unfair pay. Cross-sectional survey data from 144 minor league baseball players showed that athletes perceived unfair pay but had low occupational turnover intentions because they perceived high learning achievement and expected to play in Major League Baseball eventually. Perceptions of unfair pay only increased occupational turnover intentions under certain conditions, such as when athletes had low expectations of playing at least one game in Major League Baseball in the next 3 years. The results support a framework that combines human capital theory and pay fairness theories to explain boundary conditions for trainee motivation.

Cross-Sectional Analysis of Ground Reaction Forces During Jumps in Professional Baseball Players.

Amonette, WE, Vazquez, J, and Coleman, AE. Cross-sectional analysis of ground reaction forces during jumps in professional baseball players. J Strength Cond Res 37(8): 1616-1622, 2023-This study described and compared force plate kinetics in major (MLB) and minor (MiLB) baseball players while performing vertical jumps (CMVJ), squat jumps (SSJ), and depth jumps (DJ). Second, comparisons were made between playing positions. Data were collected on 101 professional baseball players. Peak force, eccentric and concentric impulses, peak power, and jump height were determined from each test. Reactive strength index was computed from the DJ. Data were compared using factorial analysis of variances, alpha was set at p ≤ 0.05, and effect sizes were reported using Cohen's d . During CMVJ, MiLB players generated more force ( p = 0.04; d = 0.48), power ( p = 0.02; d = 0.42), and jumped higher ( p = 0.03; d = 0.32) than MLB players. Pitchers generated higher propulsive impulses than catchers ( p = 0.004; d = 0.93). Outfielders generated more power ( p = 0.02; d = 0.98) and jumped higher ( p = 0.049; d = 1.08) than catchers and infielders ( p = 0.025; d = 0.32). Minor league baseball players generated more force ( p = 0.002; d = 0.62), power ( p = 0.001; d = 0.84), and jumped higher ( p = 0.02; d = 0.48) than MLB players in SSJ. No differences were observed by position in SSJ. Minor league baseball players jumped higher than MLB players in the DJ ( p = 0.01; d = 0.57) and outfielders generated more power in the DJ than pitchers ( p = 0.05; d = 0.43) and catchers ( p = 0.007; d = 1.61). Reactive strength index was greater in outfielders compared with catchers ( p = 0.01; d = 1.20). These data indicate that MiLB players were generally more powerful and jumped higher than MLB players in the 3 performance tasks. The difference observed by playing level were likely related to physical preparedness at the beginning of spring training; positional differences were the result of athletic skill sets required for tactical excellence at each position.

Organizational Support Factors for Minor League Baseball Player Development

This study examines organizational support in the context of minor league baseball to better understand how organizations can support athletes’ development. Exploratory results show that English and Spanish players identify salary/pay, off-season training opportunities, and nutritious food as their most important unmet development needs. English and Spanish respondents differently prioritized playing opportunities, communication with front office staff, health care, and equipment as unmet needs. Explanatory results show that organizational support factors (private problem support and second career support) explain 17% of the variation in minor league baseball players’ self-perceptions of development. The results provide guidance for Major League Baseball and its affiliates as they restructure the development system and for non-profits seeking to help players. Better pay and other financial support appear to be the most critical unmet needs where organizations can better support athletes.

The assetization of baseball players: Instrumentalizing promise with signing bonuses and human capital contracts

The idea that humans can be assets because their skills and work are resources that create value has been at the core of a long-standing concern among accounting scholars. This paper explores how minor league baseball players experience being considered assets and how they decide to partake in their assetization. Drawing on a range of data sources–59 interviews, archival material, and work experience–this study offers a voice to the assetized subject, and highlights that being an asset is a desired status. Assetization is a value-enhancing experience that depends on the adherence to a promise. Our results also show that financial instruments such as human capital contracts can be promissory mechanisms allowing assetized subjects to enhance their human capital value and assume the dual role of investee-investor, which further conditions an enactment of the entrepreneur of the self.

“A Beautiful Experience”: The Cultural Transitions of Latin American Minor League Baseball (MiLB) Players

This article aims to understand how Latino Minor League Baseball (MiLB) players describe their cultural transitions to life in the United States (US) while pursuing baseball professionally. Moreover, through the lens of social identity theory (SIT), this article investigates how these players primarily identify themselves. To better understand the experiences these players have gone through to pursue their lifelong goals of being professional players, 24 current Latino MiLB players and one coach, who recently retired as a player, were interviewed. Interview questions asked about their early transitions, the main cultural differences between their home countries and the US, and how they identify themselves while in the US. It was concluded from the interviews that, while there were difficulties, the majority of their transitions were positive. It was also found that players primarily identify themselves in terms of personality traits and nationality.

“Learning English is the Single Most Important Thing”: A Qualitative Analysis of the Linguistic Acquisition of Latino Minor League Baseball Players

This article seeks to understand how Latino Minor League Baseball (MiLB) players acculturate linguistically to life in the United States (US) while playing in the US South. To better understand how they acquire a knowledge of English, 24 current Latino MiLB players and one coach, who was also a former player, were interviewed. Questions were asked about their understanding of English, when they began learning English, and how they communicate with players and coaches from the US. It was found that knowing English is the most important way for players to acculturate to this new cultural environment and this was found through two main themes: the majority of acculturation is learning English and informal learning through baseball.

Shoulder Injuries in Professional Baseball Batters: Analysis of 3,414 Injuries Over an 8-Year Period

PurposeTo characterize the shoulder injuries experienced by baseball batters and position players (nonpitchers); to quantify the outcomes of these injuries with respect to time out of play, recurrence, and surgery rates; and to identify any injury patterns that are associated with worse outcomes.MethodsBetween 2011 and 2017, all Major League Baseball (MLB) and Minor League Baseball (MiLB) players who sustained shoulder injuries were identified using the MLB Health and Injury Tracking System (HITS). Injuries were included if they were sustained during baseball activity, resulted in at least 1 day missed (DM), and occurred in position players (nonpitchers).ResultsOver the study period, a total of 3,414 shoulder injuries occurred in batters, resulting in a sum of 68,808 DM and a mean of 22 DM per injury. Most injuries were a result of acute trauma (n = 2125; 62.2%) with throwing as the predominant activity (n = 1292; 38%). Rotator cuff strain/tears was the most common diagnosis (n = 790; 23.1%), and SLAP tears had the highest season-ending rate (35.3%) and need for surgery (45.1%). There was a lower frequency of surgery (6.2% vs 9.2%; P = .002) and reinjury (2.03% vs 3.62%; P = .007) in the throwing shoulder vs the nonthrowing shoulder. There was an increased frequency of surgery for the front versus the back batting shoulder (8.2% vs 6.2%; P = .031) with similar DM (20.7 vs 22.2; P = .333) and return to play rates (94.0% vs 92.2%; P = .135).ConclusionsDuring the 7-season study period, there were a total of 3,414 shoulder injuries that resulted in nearly 70,000 days of out of play in professional baseball position players/batters (nonpitchers). Although pitchers were intentionally excluded from the analysis, throwing was still the most common mechanism of injury, and rotator cuff injuries were the most common injury. Labral tears were the most likely injury to be season ending and require surgery.Clinical RelevanceThis study is meant to help determine characteristics of shoulder injuries that occur in non-pitchers by focusing on professional baseball batters and position players. This information could be helpful to sports medicine practitioners and shoulder specialists to better prognosticate injury recovery.

Hip Abductor Strength Asymmetry: Relationship to Upper Extremity Injury in Professional Baseball Players.

Hip strength is an important factor for control of the lumbo-pelvic-hip complex. Deficits in hip strength may affect throwing performance and contribute to upper extremity injuries. Deficits in hip abduction isometric strength would be greater in those who sustained an upper extremity injury and hip strength would predict injury incidence. Prospective cohort study. Level 3. Minor League baseball players (n = 188, age = 21.5 ± 2.2 years; n = 98 pitchers; n = 90 position players) volunteered. Hip abduction isometric strength was assessed bilaterally with a handheld dynamometer in side-lying position, expressed as torque using leg length (N·m). Hip abduction strength asymmetry was represented by [(trail leg/lead leg) × 100]. Overuse or nontraumatic throwing arm injuries were prospectively tracked. Poisson regression models were used to estimate relative risk ratios associated with hip asymmetry; confounders, including history of prior overuse injury in the past year, were included. Hip abduction asymmetry ranged from 0.05% to 57.5%. During the first 2 months of the season, 18 players (n = 12 pitchers) sustained an upper extremity injury. In pitchers, for every 5% increase in hip abduction asymmetry, there was a 1.24 increased risk of sustaining a shoulder or elbow injury. No relationship between hip abduction strength and injury was observed for position players. Hip abduction asymmetry in pitchers was related to subsequent upper extremity injuries. The observed risk ratio indicates that hip abduction asymmetry may contribute a significant but small increased risk of injury. Hip abduction muscle deficits may affect pitching mechanics and increase arm stress. Addressing hip asymmetry deficits that exceed 5% may be beneficial in reducing upper extremity injury rates in pitchers.

Rotational Shoulder Strength Profiles In North And Latin American Professional Baseball Pitchers And Position Players

Musculature of the shoulder acts to accelerate, decelerate and stabilize the arm during throwing. Shoulder rotational strength profiles can be leveraged to identify deficits that may explain a change in performance and injury risk. Previous studies of professional baseball players have not distinguished strength profiles across geographic areas of origin, and often only consider pitchers. PURPOSE: To characterize the effects of player position (Pitcher, Position Player) and geographic origin (North American, Latin American) on shoulder external (ER) and internal (IR) rotation strength in professional baseball players. METHODS: Minor league baseball players (N = 242, N = 135 Pitchers, N = 162 North American) participated. Each athlete completed two trials of maximal isometric ER and IR strength (arm at 0° abduction) using a handheld dynamometer. Strength data were normalized to bodyweight. RESULTS: Across both origins, position players were significantly stronger in ER (p < 0.001) and IR (p < 0.001) with higher ER:IR strength ratios (0.77 ± 0.17 vs. 0.73 ± 0.14, p < 0.043) compared to pitchers. Across all positions, Latin American athletes were significantly stronger in ER (mean difference (MD) = 0.3 N/kg, p < 0.001) and IR (MD = 0.2 N/kg, p < 0.001) compared to North American athletes. Specifically, Latin American pitchers were stronger in ER (MD = 0.4 N/kg, p = 0.002) and IR (MD = 0.2 N/kg, p = 0.006) compared to North American pitchers. No differences were found between position players of each region. North American pitchers were taller (189.3 cm ± 6.4 vs. 186.8 cm ± 5.6, p = 0.001) and heavier (94.6 kg ± 9.5 vs. 85.8 kg ± 13.4, p = 0.041) than Latin American pitchers. North American position players had similar heights but increased weight (89.1 kg ± 7.7 vs. 83.0 kg ± 11.5, p = 0.003) compared to Latin American position players. CONCLUSION: Player position and geographic origin are related to shoulder rotational strength values in professional baseball players. Latin American pitchers were stronger than North American pitchers when strength was normalized to bodyweight. These normative values can be used to determine player deficits, declines in performance, targets for return to play after injury, and advance strength and conditioning practices. Supported by a Major League Baseball research grant.

Effect of Forearm Position on Glenohumeral External Rotation Measurements in Baseball Players.

Alterations in glenohumeral internal rotation (GIR), glenohumeral external rotation (GER), and the total arc of motion (TAM) have been linked with increased injury risk in the shoulder and elbow. These motions have been routinely measured with the forearm in neutral rotation (GIRN, GERN, TAMN). GER capacity appears to be especially important. The throwing motion, however, requires forearm pronation as GER occurs to achieve optimal cocking (GERP). No previous studies have evaluated GERP to determine GER capacity or pronated TAM (TAMP) values. There would be significant differences between GERN and TAMN and between GERP and TAMP. Cross-sectional. Level 3. Sixty asymptomatic male Minor League Baseball players (32 pitchers, 28 position players) participated in the study and were tested on the first day of spring training. Passive range of motion measurements were recorded using a long-arm bubble goniometer for GIRN, GERN, and GERP on both arms. TAM was calculated separately as the sum of internal and external rotational measurements under neutral and pronated conditions. Within pitchers and position players, all measurements were statistically reduced for the throwing arm (P ≤ 0.03) except for GERN of the pitchers. GERP measures were significantly less than GERN for both arms of each group (P < 0.01): pitchers throwing arm +11.8°/nonthrowing arm +4.8°, position players throwing arm = +8.6°/nonthrowing arm +4.0°. The forearm position of pronation, which appears to be mediated by tightness of the biceps, decreases GER capacity and TAM. GER and TAM should be calculated in neutral and pronated positions, considering that 80% of the players have a demonstrated difference between 8° and 12°. Measurement of GERP more accurately reflects the GER required in throwing, allows better quantification of the motion capacity necessary to withstand the loads in throwing, and may suggest interventions for at risk athletes.

Career expectations and optimistic updating biases in minor league baseball players

Data on the likelihood of becoming a professional athlete are abundant and readily available, yet athletes consistently overestimate their chances of achieving the top levels of career success. Research is needed to examine whether athletes and others update their career expectations when seeing new information. In this study, minor league baseball players created a career tree estimating their probabilities of moving through the minor league system and then read personalized trees built by a C5.0 machine learning algorithm. After seeing the C5.0 trees, many players updated their expectations consistent with updating theory, especially when reevaluating their chances of being out of the system; however, there was evidence of asymmetric updating. Some acted opposite to what Bayesian reasoning would suggest. Analysis of the interview data reveals three themes that explain asymmetric and contrary updating. Players believed optimism is necessary for their baseball career, they neglected their reference group, and they saw information as possessing affective qualities. Using these three themes caused athletes to ignore some information and, occasionally, circumvent the updating process altogether.

Epidemiology of Spine-Related Neurologic Injuries in Professional Baseball Players.

A retrospective case series study. To analyze the epidemiology of diagnoses of degenerative cervical and lumbar spinal conditions among Major League Baseball (MLB) and Minor League Baseball (MiLB) players. Repetitive high-energy forces in professional baseball players may predispose them to degenerative cervical and lumbar spinal conditions. There is a lack of data concerning the epidemiology of these injuries in professional baseball. Deidentified data on spine injuries were collected from all MLB and MiLB teams from 2011 to 2016 from the MLB-commissioned Health and Injury Tracking System database. Rates of diagnoses of common degenerative spinal conditions as well as their impact on days missed due to injury, necessitation of surgery, and player participation and career-ending status were assessed. Injury rates were reported as injuries per 1000 athlete-exposures in concordance with prior studies. Over 2011 to 2016, 4246 days of play were missed due to 172 spine-related injuries. 73.3% were related to the lumbar spine and 26.7% to the cervical spine. There were similar rates of surgery required for these injuries (18.3% of lumbar injuries vs. 13.0% of cervical injuries, P = 0.2164). Mean age of players with cervical injuries was higher compared with the lumbar group (27.5 vs. 25.4, P = 0.0119). Average number of days missed due to lumbar injuries was significantly higher than those due to cervical injuries (34.1 vs. 21.6 d, P = 0.0468). Spine injury rates for pitchers were significantly higher than those of other position players (0.086 per 1000 athlete-exposures vs. 0.037, P < 0.0001). Neurologic diagnoses relating to the cervical and lumbar spine lead to substantial disability among MLB and MiLB players as well as days missed from play. Pitchers have over double the rates of injury compared with other position players. Lumbar conditions were associated with significantly higher numbers of days missed from play.Level of Evidence: 4.

The Athletic Intelligence Quotient and Performance Outcomes in Professional Baseball.

The focus on quantifiable data in sport performance has led to incremental advantages in baseball and has played an important role in the development of new hitting, pitching, fielding, and coaching strategies. Recently, researchers and team representatives have considered the impact of additional factors in baseball, including cognitive functioning. In this study, predictive validity for the Athletic Intelligence Quotient (AIQ) was examined vis-à-vis performance outcomes in professional baseball. Specifically, AIQ scores were obtained from 149 Minor League Baseball (MiLB) players prior to the 2014 baseball season and their subsequent performance was assessed through traditional and newly emphasized baseball statistics. Using hierarchical multiple regression, it was demonstrated that the AIQ predicted statistically significant relationships with hitting and pitching statistics, after controlling for other variables. Given the recent impact of analytics in professional sports, the potential importance of the AIQ in the selection and coaching process was discussed.

Structural Relationship between Physical Self-Concept, Occupational Instability, and Retirement Intention among South Korean Minor League Baseball Players

This study aimed to verify the structural relationship between physical self-concept, occupational instability, and retirement intention among South Korean minor league baseball players. Snowball sampling was used to recruit 180 minor league players who belonged to the South Korean professional baseball team and were active as of December 2020; data were collected through an online survey. Frequency analysis, psychometric validation, descriptive statistical analysis, and path analysis were performed. The results revealed that for these participants, (1) physical self-concept had a significant negative effect on their occupational instability; (2) physical self-concept did not directly affect their retirement intention; and (3) occupational instability had a significant positive effect on their retirement intentions. These results suggest the need to devise a plan addressing the practical difficulties experienced by professional minor league baseball players and improve the physical self-concept of these players to adapt to involuntary retirement. Additionally, a supportive environment should be created to reduce mental health risks.

Hook of Hamate Fractures in Major and Minor League Baseball Players

The purpose of this study was to describe an approach to surgical management of the hook of hamate fractures in professional baseball players. A retrospective chart review was performed on Major and Minor League Baseball players who underwent surgical excision for the hook of hamate fracture between the years 2003 and 2019 by a single surgeon. Patient demographics, the mechanism and timing of the injury, diagnostic and operative details, postoperative complications, and timeline to return to baseball activities were recorded. A total of 145 professional baseball players affiliated with 17 Major League Baseball organizations were studied, with the majority of athletes playing at the Minor League Baseball level (91.7%). Subacute or chronic patterns of injury (81.7%) were found to be more common than acute patterns based on radiographic and intraoperative findings. Two patients reported transient numbness in the fourth and fifth digits after surgery, 6 patients reported pisotriquetral pain when returning to a hitting program, and 1 patient developed heterotopic ossification after surgery. All complications resolved during a strength and conditioning program. On average, players in our cohort began a hitting program at 4.6 weeks after surgery and were released into full baseball activities at 7.1 weeks after surgery. Surgical excision remains an effective method of management, with a low risk of minor complications for both acute and chronic hook of hamate fractures in professional baseball players. Therapeutic Level IV.