Tommy John surgery

noun

Tom·​my John surgery ˈtä-mē-ˈjän- 

plural Tommy John surgeries

: a surgical procedure in which a torn ulnar collateral ligament of the elbow is replaced with a tendon graft typically obtained from a superficial muscle of the forearm : ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction

Dr. Timothy Kremchek, the medical director for the Cincinnati Reds, specializes in an elbow-ligament reconstruction procedure commonly known as Tommy John surgery, named for the Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher who first underwent it, in 1974.

—Sara Corbett

But as an outfielder he hurt his throwing arm and had to have Tommy John surgery before the year was out.

—Kelli Anderson

Examples of Tommy John surgery in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Dodgers right-hander Walker Buehler, making his fifth start in his return from a second Tommy John surgery, took the loss, giving up four runs — three earned — and six hits in six innings, striking out seven and walking four. —Mike Digiovanna, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2024

The left-hander signed with the Tigers in July 2016 and spent parts of six seasons in the minor leagues, undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2020. —Justice Delos Santos, The Mercury News, 26 May 2024

During his senior year at Stoneman Douglas, in Parkland Luzardo underwent Tommy John surgery a few months before being drafted by the Washington Nationals. —Isaac Azout, Miami Herald, 23 May 2024

Even in his first season after Tommy John surgery, with the Boston Red Sox in 2023, Paxton had enough confidence in a diminished cutter that averaged 85.8 mph to throw it 16.5% of the time, holding batters to a .191 average (13 for 68) with 26 strikeouts in at-bats ending with the pitch. —Mike Digiovanna, Los Angeles Times, 23 May 2024

For a pitcher who had his second Tommy John surgery in 2021, all of that could be a cause for concern. —Jeff Fletcher, Orange County Register, 18 May 2024

Duncan Marsten delivered a key two-run single in the fourth inning and also threw his first complete game in high school after coming back from Tommy John surgery. —Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 11 May 2024

In the 23 months since then, Buehler underwent, rehabilitated and recovered from surgery to repair the flexor tendon in his pitching elbow as well as Tommy John surgery (his second) with the new bracing technique. —Bill Plunkett, Orange County Register, 6 May 2024

The club is also expected to get Kris Bubic, who had Tommy John surgery, back at some point this summer. —Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 2 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

after Tommy John (Thomas Edward John, Jr. born 1943), U.S. baseball player who underwent the surgery in 1974

First Known Use

1984, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

Tommy John surgery

noun

Tom·​my John surgery ˈtäm-ē-ˈjän- 

: ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction