Baseball says players with concussions must sit out for a week
Brain injuries affect people everywhere, including Philadelphia. Athletes in particular are prone to brain injuries like concussions. These injuries can be very dangerous. Because they are not always accompanied by clear symptoms, players often feel that they can continue participating in a sport even though it may be detrimental to their health. In an effort to protect its players, Major League Baseball announced this week that players who sustain concussions during the upcoming season will be placed on a seven-day disabled list.
MLB says the purpose of the disabled list is to allow time for a concussion to heal and to prevent players from playing with a concussion. The seven days required for those on the list will be a minimum. Players that require more time to recover could be moved to the normal 15-day disabled list.
In addition to the new disabled list – which will be used on a trial basis – the league has also created additional policies to ensure the health of its players. All players will be required to receive a baseline neurological evaluation each spring and each time they join a new team. It will also be mandatory that each team establish a relationship with a brain trauma specialist in their area who can be made available to assess players and umpires if need be.
The Commissioner’s Office and the players’ union collaborated to create the new policies. They say it will benefit the health and safety of players, umpires and other individuals involved in the sport.