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

This development coincides with the 34-year-old right-hander's determined comeback bid after undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2023. — Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026

The 18-year-old underwent an internal brace procedure – a step below Tommy John surgery – in the same left elbow in May 2025. — Greg Dudek, Boston Herald, 7 July 2026

Barring a trade, Huascar Brazobán projects to be part of the bullpen in 2027, possibly along with Reed Garrett and Dedniel Núñez, if both recover from their respective Tommy John surgeries. — Will Sammon, New York Times, 6 July 2026

The Yankees could also shift some starters — there’s Ryan Weathers, Will Warren and Clarke Schmidt, who is recovering from Tommy John surgery — to the bullpen down the road, but that’s contingent on their rotation getting and staying healthy. — Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 4 July 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