With concussions becoming a bigger problem in baseball and many other sports, MLB and the Players Association recently put together a committee for purposes of developing a concussion policy. The result? A concussion policy! Effective on Thursday, shown below are the major components:
MLB, MLBPA Announce New Concussion Policy
(1) Players and umpires will be subjected to mandatory baseline neuropsychological testing in Spring Training, and when they join a new team.
(2) There will be standard protocols for the evaluation of a possible concussion after “high risk” incidents like collisions or getting hit in the head.
(3) Players with concussions may be placed on a new seven-day disabled list, which is being established this year on a trial basis.
(4) There will be standard protocols for the evaluation of concussion recovery, with one of the requirements being the submission of a “Return to Play” form before a player plays in any game at any level. This will also apply to umpires.
This isn’t anything major, and many teams were already being cautious with concussions anyway, but this is nevertheless a positive step - especially the new seven-day DL. Applause all around for forward progress.
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