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

And just two days later, in perhaps the most severe blow to their bullpen, closer Trevor Megill — with 30 saves in 36 chances — joined him on the IL with a flexor strain, an elbow injury that can often be a precursor to Tommy John surgery. —Jon Vankin, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Sep. 2025

In the two seasons following his Tommy John surgery in August 2022, take a look-see at Buehler’s statline — uh, hide the kids for this one — an 8-13 record with a 5.42 ERA and 38 home runs allowed in 187⅔ innings. —Anthony Stitt, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025

The 10th overall pick out of Gonzaga in 2022 missed the entire 2024 minor league season recovering from Tommy John surgery on his right elbow. —Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 31 Aug. 2025

For six innings the Angels didn’t even have a hit against Cristian Javier, who was making his fourth start since coming back from Tommy John surgery. —Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 30 Aug. 2025

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