Everything you need to know about Tommy John Surgery

New York Mets fans were dealt a crushing blow on Tuesday when the team announced that right-hander Noah Syndergaard will need to undergo Tommy John surgery to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching elbow. The former All-Star will go under the knife on Thursday and is not expected back on the mound until April 2021.

Syndergaard is the second New York hurler to require Tommy John surgery this winter. Yankees ace Luis Severino also underwent the procedure on Feb. 27 after experiencing forearm discomfort during the team’s training camp in Tampa.

Here’s everything you need to know (but may have been afraid to ask) about baseball’s most buzzed about medical procedure.

What is Tommy John surgery?

Tommy John surgery is a medical procedure used to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament inside the elbow. The procedure was introduced by American orthopedic surgeon Frank Jobe, who first performed it in 1974 on Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Tommy John.

How did Tommy John perform after undergoing Tommy John surgery?

Good question. John underwent his eponymous procedure on September 25, 1974 and sat out the entirety of the 1975 season as he recovered and worked to regain his form. Most physicians doubted he would ever pitch again (including Jobe himself), but when he did return the following year, he went 10-10 with a 3.09 ERA in 31 starts, including six complete games. John pitched for 13 more seasons, during which time he went 154-115 and finished in the top five in Cy Young balloting on three occasions.

How many players have undergone Tommy John surgery?

To date, 333 Major Leaguers have undergone Tommy John surgery.

Have positional players undergone Tommy John surgery too?

Yes, but it’s far less common. Of the 333 Major Leaguers who have undergone Tommy John surgery, only 44 have been positional players. Catchers account for 20 of those instances, which is not surprising given the number of times they throw the ball per game.

Has any player undergone Tommy John surgery more than once?

Yes. Several pitchers have undergone the procedure twice, but Jason Isringhausen and Josh Johnson hold the dubious distinction of having undergone Tommy John surgery three times each. In both cases they bounced back admirably. Isringhausen was named to two All-Star teams and won a World Series title following his first surgery. Johnson also earned two trips to the mid-season classic and won the NL ERA crown following his first surgery.

Has any pitcher ever won the Cy Young award after undergoing Tommy John surgery?

Yes. Jacob deGrom underwent Tommy John surgery in 2010 after partially tearing the UCL in his pitching elbow during his first year of Rookie Ball. The injury caused him to miss the following season, but it didn’t deter him in the long run. deGrom won NL Rookie of the Year honors in 2014 and captured his first of two NL Cy Young awards in 2018 after leading the league in ERA and setting a record by allowing three run or less in 29 straight starts.

Has a pitcher been elected to the Hall of Fame after undergoing Tommy John surgery?

Absolutely. John Smoltz was ushered into Cooperstown in 2015, 15 years after undergoing successful Tommy John surgery. Smoltz’s injury had a profound impact on his career trajectory as he went from being an elite starter to the most devastating reliever in the Major Leagues. The Detroit native posted a career-high 55 saves in his first full season coming out of the bullpen, and was selected to four All-Star teams as the Braves’ primary closer.

---

Swing for the fences with BetAmerica's MLB player props and futures!