MLB Institutes a New Concussion Rule

Major League Baseball has addressed the need to protect their players.

MLB, introduced a new policy today to deal with the alarming rise in concussions, including the creation of a seven-day disabled list for head injuries and new evaluation procedures after incidents.

This new policy was generated by a team of neurologists, trainers, medical directors and physicians, and was agreed upon by MLB and the MLBPA.  This new rule will go into effect opening day.

The reason for this new rule is due in part to the concussions that Minnesota Twins, Justin Morneau and New York Mets, Jason Bay suffered last year.  The Twins have taken it very slow with Morneau this spring and hopefully he will be ready to play on Opening Day.

Here are the major changes:

• A new seven-day disabled list specifically for players suffering from concussions.  Any player on this DL for more than 14 days will automatically be transferred to the 15-day DL. Players who suffer concussions are not required to be put on the DL.
• New procedures for evaluating players/umpires for possible concussions especially after incidents such as collisions or being hit in the head by a ball or bat.
• New procedures for clearing players/umpires after being diagnosed with a concussion.  Teams are required to submit a “Return to Play” form to the league’s Medical Director before the player is allowed back on the field, even if the player was never placed on the DL.
• Mandatory neuropsychological testing will be required for players/umpires during Spring Training (or when a player joins a team during the season).
• Every team will be required to have a “mild traumatic brain injury specialist” located in its home city.

This spring we have seen Josh Beckett get hit in the temple from a batted ball.  He was diagnosed with concussion like symptoms.  Roy Oswalt took a line drive to the head off the bat of Manny Ramirez.  Both pitchers were very luck to escape a serious injury from these incidents.  

Anything that will help protect our players and keep them healthy is always a good thing in sports.  Kudos to MLB for stepping up to the plate, unlike the NFL

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