On the inside of the elbow where the ligament attaches, even if that pulls away from the growth plate and then is allowed to heal by itself, there may be a knob there and a tendency to develop tendinitis down the road. The really worrisome problem, though, is if the player develops damage to the growth plate on the outside of the elbow. Those problems sometimes don't get better with time or will lead to an arthritic process in the joint. Loose bodies are the long-term result of chronically damaging that growth plate on the outer part of the elbow. If a kid really has an interest in trying for a college scholarship and a major league career, he has to keep in mind that he can't go from playing weekend baseball to practicing every day with two teams without risking injury.
Parents definitely have a major role in prevention.
Parents have to be careful not to have their own aspirations delivered through their child. He is medical director of the Sports Medicine Clinic in Seattle. The information, including opinions and recommendations, contained in this website is for educational purposes only. Such information is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. No one should act upon any information provided in this website without first seeking medical advice from a qualified medical physician.