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

Meanwhile, Gerrit Cole (Tommy John surgery) will need a few more rehab starts. —Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 6 May 2026

Cole is still trying to work his way back to The Show after undergoing Tommy John surgery in March 2025, which resulted in him throwing zero pitches for New York last season. —Mark Harris Outkick, FOXNews.com, 6 May 2026

The Tampa native redshirted as a freshman while recovering from Tommy John surgery. —Mitch Light, New York Times, 4 May 2026

Bergert, 25, underwent Tommy John surgery. —Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 29 Apr. 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