Tommy John Surgery Legacy: Five Pitchers Who Redefined Careers After Procedure

Former Major League Baseball pitcher Tommy John has died at the age of 83, prompting a retrospective on the surgical procedure that bears his name. John passed away at his home in Bradenton, Florida, while in hospice care. He recorded 288 wins over a 26-year career spanning from 1963 to 1989, playing for teams including the Cleveland Indians, Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, and New York Yankees.

Fifty-two years ago, John underwent a groundbreaking procedure performed by Dr. Frank Jobe to repair his UCL. The successful reconstructive surgery became famously known as Tommy John Surgery. What was once considered a career-ending injury for pitchers is now a routine procedure that allows athletes to make full recoveries, leaving a lasting mark on the sport more than half a century later.

In light of John’s death, Fox Sports published a retrospective highlighting five pitchers who achieved significant success following the operation. The article details the recoveries of Jacob deGrom, Justin Verlander, Tarik Skubal, and Stephen Strasburg, noting their post-surgery accolades including Cy Young Awards and World Series titles.

Jacob deGrom is noted as the first pitcher to win back-to-back Cy Young Awards after undergoing the surgery, achieving this with the New York Mets in the 2018 and 2019 seasons. DeGrom underwent the procedure in October 2010, shortly after being drafted by the Mets in the ninth round of the 2010 MLB Draft. He continued to pitch at an elite level into his late 30s, getting named an All-Star for the fifth time in his career in 2025.

Justin Verlander underwent the surgery in 2020 and returned to anchor the Houston Astros to a World Series title in 2022. He also won his third Cy Young Award at age 39, going 18-4 with a 1.75 ERA and 185 strikeouts that season. Verlander joined a rare group of pitchers to capture a Cy Young Award following the procedure.

Tarik Skubal, who had the surgery in 2016 while at Seattle University, is reported to have won consecutive Cy Young Awards in 2024 and 2025 with the Detroit Tigers. He became just the third pitcher in history to win the award multiple times after undergoing Tommy John surgery.

Stephen Strasburg is highlighted for leading the Washington Nationals to a World Series title in 2019, where he posted a 1.46 ERA and a 5-0 record. Strasburg needed Tommy John surgery after just 12 starts early in his career but returned to pitch at an elite level, leading the National League in strikeouts in 2014 and being named an All-Star three times.