The scar on the inside of Seth Maness’ right arm looks like any other. It is maybe 2 inches long, a small streak of reddish purple that arcs along the crook of his elbow. Inside a baseball clubhouse, it is the mark of the beast. It is also everywhere.
The scar is a symbol of Tommy John surgery, the elbow reconstruction procedure that has changed how we think about sports medicine and the art of pitching. The scar is a reminder of the millions of dollars lost and the epidemic of pitcher injuries and the careers that hang by a tiny elbow ligament.