diff --git a/VERSION b/VERSION
index 005119b..73462a5 100644
--- a/VERSION
+++ b/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-2.4.1
+2.5.1
diff --git a/app/services/player_service.py b/app/services/player_service.py
index ef9f063..b373918 100644
--- a/app/services/player_service.py
+++ b/app/services/player_service.py
@@ -38,6 +38,9 @@ class PlayerService(BaseService):
 
     cache_patterns = ["players*", "players-search*", "player*", "team-roster*"]
 
+    # Deprecated fields to exclude from player responses
+    EXCLUDED_FIELDS = ['pitcher_injury']
+
     # Class-level repository for dependency injection
     _injected_repo: Optional[AbstractPlayerRepository] = None
 
@@ -322,19 +325,10 @@ class PlayerService(BaseService):
         if first_item is None:
             return []
 
-        # If items are already dicts (from mock)
-        if isinstance(first_item, dict):
-            players_data = list(query)
-            if short_output:
-                return players_data
-            # Add computed fields if needed
-            return players_data
-
-        # If items are DB models (from real repo)
-
+        # Convert all items through _player_to_dict to ensure filtering
         players_data = []
         for player in query:
-            player_dict = model_to_dict(player, recurse=not short_output)
+            player_dict = cls._player_to_dict(player, recurse=not short_output)
             players_data.append(player_dict)
 
         return players_data
@@ -434,17 +428,20 @@ class PlayerService(BaseService):
 
     @classmethod
     def _player_to_dict(cls, player, recurse: bool = True) -> Dict[str, Any]:
-        """Convert player to dict."""
-        # If already a dict, return as-is
+        """Convert player to dict, excluding deprecated fields."""
+        # If already a dict, filter and return
         if isinstance(player, dict):
-            return player
+            return {k: v for k, v in player.items() if k not in cls.EXCLUDED_FIELDS}
 
         # Try to convert Peewee model
         try:
-            return model_to_dict(player, recurse=recurse)
+            player_dict = model_to_dict(player, recurse=recurse)
+            # Filter out excluded fields
+            return {k: v for k, v in player_dict.items() if k not in cls.EXCLUDED_FIELDS}
         except ImportError:
             # Fall back to basic dict conversion
-            return dict(player)
+            player_dict = dict(player)
+            return {k: v for k, v in player_dict.items() if k not in cls.EXCLUDED_FIELDS}
 
     @classmethod
     def update_player(