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

Cade Horton is out for the year after having Tommy John surgery, while Justin Steele is on the 60-day IL recovering from his 2025 Tommy John surgery and a left flexor strain. — ABC News, 24 June 2026

His 1,177 innings through games played Tuesday are the 12th most in that span despite him only throwing 34 innings across six starts in that initial season and missing the entire 2024 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery. — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 24 June 2026

And right-hander Evan Phillips (Tommy John surgery) is expected to return in early July. — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 21 June 2026

The decision, Boone said, wasn’t just about giving extra rest to Cole, who returned last month after a 14-month recovery from Tommy John surgery. — Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 21 June 2026

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

Rhymes for Tommy John surgery

• radiosurgery
• cryosurgery
• microsurgery
• neurosurgery
• psychosurgery
• perjury

Medical Definition

Tommy John surgery

noun

Tom·​my John surgery ˈtäm-ē-ˈjän- 

: ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction