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

Cole, meanwhile, made 22 starts in his first season back from Tommy John surgery. — Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 2 Oct. 2026

The Cubs got two singles and a walk before Musgrove struck out pinch-hitter Michael Conforto to preserve the shutout in his return from Tommy John surgery. — ABC News, 30 Sep. 2026

Alcantara, long Miami’s ace, set multiple franchise records while finally looking again like the pitcher who won a Cy Young in 2022 before undergoing Tommy John surgery and missing the 2024 season. — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 28 Sep. 2026

Ryan, who came over to the Tigers in the deal that sent lefty ace Tarik Skubal to the Los Angeles Dodgers, hasn't pitched in the majors since 2024 while recovering from Tommy John surgery. — Christian Romo, Freep.com, 22 Sep. 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