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

1936 R311 Chicle Glossy Boston Braves Team ⭐ Babe Ruth
Babe Ruth was traded from the Yankees to the Boston Braves in 1935.
This is Babe's last mainstream playing days card, taken with the Braves Team at Spring Training in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Great to see him hit the ground running. Still a believer in this kid 🤞🏼

2026 Topps Series 1 Ronny Mauricio Sandglitter Parallel #159 - New York Mets

Pulled from my first blaster of 2026 Topps Series 1

So what do all these players have in common? They all have broken their hamate bone in their hand. This tiny bird bone claimed three more victims yesterday with Corbin Carroll, Francisco Lindor and Jackson Holliday joining this exclusive group. The good part is typically the bone is removed so it is only a one time injury. The bad part is sometimes it says players power right when they come back. Here is to a speedy recovery for those three!