<img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" src="http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/ewlogofi.png" alt="EWFI" width="590" height="206" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-242076" srcset="https://blogs.fangraphs.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/ewlogofi.png 590w, https://blogs.fangraphs.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/ewlogofi-300x105.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 590px) 100vw, 590px" />
<a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/players/tarik-skubal/22267/stats/pitching" target="_blank">Tarik Skubal</a> is the latest athlete to return to play faster than anticipated thanks to a new surgical technique or technology. But there&#8217;s something even better than coming back more quickly from an injury: avoiding an injury in the first place. Can injury prevention be improved as much as injury treatment? In this themed episode, Ben Lindbergh talks to four guests about three potential ways to keep players healthy. First (5:14), Mariners biomechanist <a href="https://ca.linkedin.com/in/cedric-attias" target="_blank">Cedric Attias</a> joins to discuss how pitching mechanics affect elbow stress, whether injuries stem more from nature or nurture, and whether MLB teams are prioritizing injury research. Second (49:23), <a href="https://x.com/moreau_daryl" target="_blank">Daryl</a> and <a href="https://x.com/AdamMoreauPD" target="_blank">Adam Moreau</a>, the father-and-son inventors of FlexProGrip, explain how forearm weakness endangers the UCL, how they designed and validated their training tool, and how the device has been adopted in the game. Third (1:41:18), <a href="https://steverowson.com/" target="_blank">Steve Rowson</a>, director of the Helmet Lab at Virginia Tech, shares how helmets have improved across sports, why dangerous impacts are different in football and baseball, and why catcher&#8217;s masks may need an overhaul to minimize concussions.
Audio&nbsp;intro: Ian Phillips, &#8220;<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WrPfzMAqjbs7sudd3ufBF9DQ6CUJQBgI/view?usp=drive_link" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Effectively Wild Theme</a>&#8221;
Audio&nbsp;interstitial 1: Luke Lillard, &#8220;<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IdOM-zb7R8ln39HiJsfTKpQCOdvTF7fd/view?usp=drive_link" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Effectively Wild Theme</a>&#8221;
Audio&nbsp;interstitial 2: Xavier LeBlanc, &#8220;<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/14GwETbHV9icxS2-FKQXWPNtoJKy1U55L/view?usp=drive_link" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Effectively Wild Theme</a>&#8221;
Audio&nbsp;outro: Grant Brisbee, &#8220;<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CJziS-LZMoyB13avq991af2-c9KaGfoU/view?usp=drive_link" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Effectively Wild Theme</a>&#8221;

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nanoneedle-skubal-hellebuyck-00b34d0d90e7d09d9389f99bfa47e5e3" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to NanoNeedle AP piece</a>
<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nanoneedle-skubal-hellebuyck-00b34d0d90e7d09d9389f99bfa47e5e3" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to NanoNeedle Athletic piece</a>
<a href="https://www.theringer.com/2024/04/02/mlb/pitcher-injuries-crisis-mlb-study-tommy-john-ucl" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Ben on protecting pitchers</a>
<a href="https://www.theringer.com/2022/05/02/mlb/pitcher-roster-rules-limit" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Ben on pitcher roster limits</a>
<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/11/us/politics/conor-mcgregor-ufc-drugs.html" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to McGregor/ElAttrache article</a>
<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7353194/2026/06/11/dodgers-doctor-questioned-performance-enhancing-drugs-neal-elattrache/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to MLB/ElAttrache article</a>
<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7334794/2026/06/05/astros-jose-altuve-injury-return/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to article on Altuve&#8217;s return</a>
<a href="https://www.mlb.com/news/francisco-alvarez-activated-by-mets" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to article on Alvarez&#8217;s return</a>
<a href="https://www.mlb.com/news/new-procedure-could-be-tommy-john-alternative-c233867508" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to internal brace info</a>
<a href="https://www.wsj.com/sports/basketball/jayson-tatum-achilles-surgery-celtics-398ab9f0" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to article on Tatum&#8217;s return</a>
<a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/48903412/chiefs-mahomes-pleased-get-ota-reps-amid-knee-injury-recovery" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to article on Mahomes&#8217;s return</a>
<a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/48960408/niners-kittle-achilles-targets-week-1-says-track" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to article on Kittle&#8217;s return</a>
<a href="https://uwaterloo.ca/news/media/throwing-smarter-not-softer-how-baseball-pitchers-can" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to summary of Cedric&#8217;s research</a>
<a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11044-026-10143-y" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Cedric&#8217;s research paper</a>
<a href="https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/do-lower-arm-slots-lessen-injury-risks-for-pitchers/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to other research on lower arm slots</a>
<a href="https://www.drivelinebaseball.com/2017/12/pulldowns-the-what-why-and-when/?srsltid=AfmBOooDEcZPusGzbKJYnnO8P1-4-XZkn22-JRlwyrRFga98sAPAPsrs" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to pulldowns explainer</a>
<a href="https://www.theringer.com/2017/02/06/mlb/mlb-cardinals-astros-hacking-scandal-front-office-secrets-144dbe8fac32" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Ben on team secrets</a>
<a href="https://movie-sounds.org/sci-fi/star-wars-episode-v-the-empire-strikes-back/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Rieekan quote</a>
<a href="https://www.drivelinebaseball.com/2026/03/pitchers-are-going-low-and-for-good-reason-but-its-not-for-everyone/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to lower-arm-slots trend</a>
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/shorts/LRpG-3p6efw" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to video clip about the trend</a>
<a href="https://bandwagon.substack.com/p/23-a-new-slant-on-hunter-browns-breakout" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Crizer on arm slots</a>
<a href="https://www.mlb.com/brewers/news/jacob-misiorowski-hardest-strikeout-pitch-by-starter" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Misiorowski game</a>
<a href="https://flexprogrip.com" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to FlexProGrip site</a>
<a href="https://flexprogrip.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Tommy-John-SportTechie-article-about-FlexPro-Grip.pdf" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to FlexProGrip article 1</a>
<a href="https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/2024/04/24/pitching-injuries-flexpro-grip-data/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to FlexProGrip article 2</a>
<a href="https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/2025/02/24/10-most-innovative-sports-tech-companies-flexpro-grip-specializes-in-protecting-pitchers-elbows/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to FlexProGrip article 3</a>
<a href="https://www.thescore.com/mlb/news/3273317" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to FlexProGrip article 4</a>
<a href="https://flexprogrip.com/white-papers/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to FlexProGrip white papers</a>
<a href="https://flexprogrip.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/White-Paper-Analysis-of-Driveline-Athletes-Tested-on-FPG.pdf" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Driveline research</a>
<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-layback-podcast/id1736500287" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to The Layback Podcast</a>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Island_of_Doctor_Moreau" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to The Island of Doctor Moreau</a>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Scissorhands" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Edward Scissorhands</a>
<a href="https://news.vt.edu/articles/2026/04/helmet-lab-mlb-baseball-catcher-concussions-study.html" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Helmet Lab concussions research</a>
<a href="https://www.helmet.beam.vt.edu/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to helmet ratings site</a>
<a href="https://bme.vt.edu/people/faculty/rowson-s.html" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Rowson&#8217;s faculty page</a>
<a href="https://www.cnn.com/health/virginia-tech-helmet-lab-technology-safety-testing-spc" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to CNN Helmet Lab story</a>
<a href="https://grantland.com/features/mlb-catcher-concussions-home-plate-collisions-rule/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Ben on catcher concussions</a>
<a href="https://www.baseball-almanac.com/humor7.shtml" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Carlin baseball vs. football bit</a>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Risk_compensation" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to risk compensation wiki</a>
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSfutL8t11c" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Helmet Lab testing footage</a>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marvin_the_Martian" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Marvin the Martian wiki</a>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Great_Gazoo" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Great Gazoo wiki</a>
<a href="https://spaceballs.fandom.com/wiki/Dark_Helmet" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Dark Helmet wiki</a>
<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/23/sports/baseball/alex-torres-is-alone-in-mlb-wearing-isoblox-hat.html" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Torres protective cap article 1</a>
<a href="https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/12741917/uni-watch-history-headgear-mlb-alex-torres" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Torres protective cap article 2</a>
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zp2vZaUybbM" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Torres cap footage</a>
<a href="https://www.mlb.com/news/mlb-pitchers-weighing-cap-safety-options-c167095520" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to pitcher cap inserts info 1</a>
<a href="https://www.mlb.com/news/mlb-pitcher-head-protection-coming-in-spring-c164382304" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to pitcher cap inserts info 2</a>
<a href="https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/20250470/ball-cap-guards-not-catching-mlb-pitchers-danger" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to pitcher cap inserts info 3</a>
<a href="https://www.oklahoman.com/story/sports/college/softball/2024/05/17/ncaa-softball-tournament-2024-softball-pitchers-wear-face-masks-womens-college-world-series/73589692007/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to softball pitcher mask article</a>
<a href="https://www.npr.org/2014/05/18/313696131/softballers-face-a-fielders-choice-when-to-wear-a-face-mask" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to softball fielder mask article</a>
<a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6342899/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to softball fielder mask research</a>
<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7343059/2026/06/09/mlb-catchers-foul-balls-groin-stance/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to The Athletic on catcher nut shots</a>
<a href="https://www.sportsinfosolutions.com/2026/06/11/stat-of-the-week-how-often-are-catchers-getting-hit-with-foul-balls-in-bad-spots/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to SIS on catcher nut shots</a>
<a href="https://people.com/movies/johnny-knoxville-penis-great-working-order-2007-jackass-stunt-injury/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Knoxville incident</a>

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Effectively Wild Episode 2491: How Not to Get Hurt

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