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

Miami Marlins right-handed pitcher Eury Perez will undergo Tommy John surgery and miss the 2024 season, Marlins president of baseball operations Peter Bendix announced Thursday. —Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 4 Apr. 2024

Robbie Ray, another Cy Young winner, will be another month closer to finishing his rehab from Tommy John surgery. —Evan Webeck, The Mercury News, 4 Apr. 2024

Last year, in the 35-year-old’s return from Tommy John surgery, Paxton had a 9.39 ERA in four starts on regular rest, compared to a 3.57 mark in 15 outings with five days or more. —Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 3 Apr. 2024

Right-handed reliever Jovani Moran recently underwent Tommy John surgery and will miss the entire season. —Dean Spiros, Twin Cities, 30 Mar. 2024

This could have been a time to consider it, after a franchise-worst 59-103 record a year ago and a pitching staff that will open the season with two of its top three starters — German Marquez and Antonio Senzatela — expected to miss the majority of the year following Tommy John surgery. —Jack Magruder, Forbes, 26 Mar. 2024

Marlins ace Sandy Alcantara will miss the 2024 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery last October. —Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 22 Mar. 2024

The reality that Tommy John surgery is not the magical wand to greatness also was a lesson learned. —Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2024

Enlow’s came against a Dodgers lineup that featured Mookie Betts, Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman; Howard’s four innings were hitless; and Jefferies’ came in front of Melvin, who managed him in Oakland before his second Tommy John surgery. —Evan Webeck, The Mercury News, 18 Mar. 2024

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

Medical Definition

Tommy John surgery

noun

Tom·​my John surgery ˈtäm-ē-ˈjän- 

: ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction