Spring Training is also Tommy John season where elbows go sproing after a winter off from pitching. I feel like Tommy missed out on a great marketing opportunity to trademark the procedure after his was done in 1974. I heard his is not a big fan of the name, but think there could be TJ recovery merch, TJ career achievement awards, and TJ sponsoring the 60 day Injured List.

So far the pitchers to go down with Tommy John this Spring Training (hopefully no more!):

Mike Vasil - White Sox

Hayden Birdsong - Giants

Adam Mazur - Braves

Bowden Francis - Blue Jays

Vinny Nittoli - Red Sox (Internal Brace)

Pablo Lopez - Twins (Internal Brace)

Tommy is featured here are the 2022 Topps Archives Signature Series, 1989 Topps, 2021 Topps Spotlight 70 by Andy Friedman and 2001 Topps Archives autograph gifted to me by skaght at Reindeer Studios.

(P.S. Tommy was 46 years old in 1989!)

#tommyjohn #ucl #springtraining2026 #baseballcards #1989topps