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
Sara CorbettBut as an outfielder he hurt his throwing arm and had to have Tommy John surgery before the year was out.—Kelli Anderson
Kelli AndersonExamples of Tommy John surgery in a Sentence
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In his first full season since recovering from Tommy John surgery, deGrom has regained his top form, going 9-2 with a 2.39 ERA and 113 strikeouts against only 24 walks.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 July 2025
DeGrom made just six starts before tearing an elbow ligament and requiring season-ending Tommy John surgery.
—John Perrotto, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
There’s been a few already, as Fernando Cruz, Mark Leiter Jr., Yerry De los Santos and Jake Cousins — who won’t return this season due to Tommy John surgery — are all on the injured list.
—Gary Phillips, Hartford Courant, 13 July 2025
The righty missed all of last season after undergoing Tommy John surgery.
—Zach Pressnell, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 July 2025
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Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 July 2025
DeGrom made just six starts before tearing an elbow ligament and requiring season-ending Tommy John surgery.
—John Perrotto, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
There’s been a few already, as Fernando Cruz, Mark Leiter Jr., Yerry De los Santos and Jake Cousins — who won’t return this season due to Tommy John surgery — are all on the injured list.
—Gary Phillips, Hartford Courant, 13 July 2025
The righty missed all of last season after undergoing Tommy John surgery.
—Zach Pressnell, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for Tommy John surgery
Cite this Entry
“Tommy John surgery.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Tommy%20John%20surgery. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
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Tommy John surgery
noun
Tom·my John surgery
ˈtäm-ē-ˈjän-
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