Tommy John surgery

American

[tom-ee jon sur-juh-ree] / ˈtɒm i ˈdʒɒn ˌsɜr dʒə ri /

noun

Medicine/Medical.

an operation to repair a torn ligament on the inner side of the elbow by replacing it with a tendon from elsewhere in the body or from a donor.

Etymology

Origin of Tommy John surgery

First recorded in 1985–1990; after U.S. baseball pitcher Thomas Edward (“Tommy”) John (born 1943), who in 1974 was the first to undergo the surgery

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

And right-hander Evan Phillips is not expected back for several months after Tommy John surgery ended his season last June.

From Los Angeles Times

The Santa Clarita native has a long history of injuries — including Tommy John surgery in 2021 — and never has clocked more than 135 innings in a season.

From Los Angeles Times

Unlike Tommy John surgery, which usually sidelines pitchers for around 18 months, players who undergo hamate operations typically return to the field within eight weeks.

From The Wall Street Journal

Two years after Tommy John surgery on his right elbow, Aidan Martinez returned to the mound for Birmingham High on Monday in the closer’s role and responded with three strikeouts and three walks and no hits in 1 1/3 innings in the Patriots’ 7-4 win over Ventura in the Easton tournament.

From Los Angeles Times

But for the 27-year-old Ryan, it’s part of the journey in his return from Tommy John surgery.

From Los Angeles Times

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023