OT: Tommy John surgery comeback stories

Indiana Jones · Post #1 » by **Indiana Jones** » Wed Apr 25, 2012 1:37 am

This is a bit off-topic, but after I learned about Sergio's arm troubles, I was perusing the net about pitchers who've had Tommy John surgery. It's a pretty impressive list. Anyway, I came across an interesting article by, gulp, bleacher report, and saw that they labelled Phil Humber's comeback a failure (as of 2010). Safe to say, they'll have to re-write that section now...

Also, there are a few former Jays on the list. And by far the most successful Tommy John recovery has to be Mariano Rivera...did anyone know he had it done? Crazy....

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/444684-tommy-john-surgery-10-pitchers-who-came-back-better-10-who-didnt/page/15

-MetA4- · Post #2 » by **-MetA4-** » Wed Apr 25, 2012 1:43 am

Its a fairly regular injury these days. Hardly a career ender anymore.

Skin Blues · Post #3 » by **Skin Blues** » Wed Apr 25, 2012 3:13 am

It's like an oil change. Every 10 years or 2000 innings. Very minimal risk, other than losing an entire year of course. I don't get all the re-injury paranoia with guys coming back from it.

Hamyltowne · Post #4 » by **Hamyltowne** » Wed Apr 25, 2012 3:39 am

Yes, it's very common and the convalescence is almost expected.

Shoulder problems, however, have ended many careers. If they make it back, more often than not, they're not as effective a pitcher as they were previously.

Secueritae · Post #5 » by **Secueritae** » Wed Apr 25, 2012 2:45 pm

Maybe it's not the actual surgery that makes a lot of players fail to return to form, but not pitching for a year that hinders the pitcher's velocity, control and overall performance. I mean it's like 1 year without doing something that you're good at, and then trying to do it a year later you might not get the same results. Also add in the fact that your arm might feel different (Possibly Psychologically due to extended absence from throwing) than before and it may make you alter you're throw a bit. It's like rust that not everyone can overcome, but those who do come back almost as good, like Carpenter or Rivera.

So far though Wainwright is struggling through his first year back.

dagger · Post #6 » by **dagger** » Wed Apr 25, 2012 8:59 pm

Not Tommy John, but Michael Pineda going under the knife next week for a labrel tear.

Big setback for Yanks.

Steve Berthiaume
#Yankees Pineda surgery news example why velocity drops generate injury concerns. Also not good: shoulders much harder to fix than elbows.