Tommy John surgery

noun

Tom·​my John surgery ˈtä-mē-ˈjän- How to pronounce Tommy John surgery (audio)
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Shohei Ohtani is there as well, in the late stages of Tommy John surgery rehab that could be completed just after the All Star break. Tony Blengino, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025 And while the rotation has been a pleasant surprise, even with Cole's Tommy John surgery and Rookie of the Year Luis Gil's lat injury, an incomplete Yankees team is no match for the reigning World Series champs, Rodriguez thinks. Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 7 June 2025 Stephenson returned from a 13-month rehab from Tommy John surgery, only to get hurt in his second game back. Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 6 June 2025 Former Cy Young Award winner Corbin Burnes will undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery on his right elbow, the Arizona Diamondbacks announced Friday. Jon Paul Hoornstra, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for Tommy John surgery

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of Tommy John surgery was in 1984

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tommy John surgery.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Tommy%20John%20surgery. Accessed 13 Jun. 2025.

Medical Definition

Tommy John surgery

noun
Tom·​my John surgery ˈtäm-ē-ˈjän- How to pronounce Tommy John surgery (audio)
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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