Evaluation of baseball finger begins with a medical history and physical examination.

Physical findings in someone with baseball finger may include:

• Finger bruising
• Finger deformity
• Instability of ligaments on stress
• Limited or inability to move a finger joint
• Finger swelling
• Finger tenderness

Testing is required to confirm the diagnosis of baseball finger.

Tests for baseball finger may include:

• Finger x-rays
• These are normally performed, and may reveal a small chip of bone off the distal phalanx. The chip is the site where the extensor tendon pulled away from the bone, taking a small piece bone with it.