Brandon Williamson To Undergo Tommy John Surgery

Yankees' top pitching prospect to miss 2023 season

Williamson underwent an MRI on Thursday that revealed a torn UCL. The 24-year-old right-hander will undergo surgery on Tuesday, and he is expected to miss the entire 2023 season.

The Yankees issued a statement on Friday afternoon announcing the news. Williamson has been one of the Yankees' top pitching prospects, and he was expected to compete for a spot in the starting rotation this season. However, the injury will now sideline him for the entire year.

Williamson was drafted by the Yankees in the first round of the 2019 MLB Draft. He quickly rose through the minor leagues, and he was named the Yankees' Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2021.

Williamson made his MLB debut in 2022, and he appeared in 10 games for the Yankees. He finished the season with a 4.00 ERA and 1.20 WHIP.

The Yankees are now expected to turn to other pitchers to fill the void left by Williamson's injury. Clarke Schmidt, Domingo Germán, and JP Sears are among the candidates who could compete for a spot in the starting rotation.

What is Tommy John Surgery?

Tommy John surgery is a surgical procedure that repairs a torn ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in the elbow. The UCL is a band of tissue that connects the humerus (upper arm bone) to the ulna (forearm bone) and helps to stabilize the elbow joint.

Tommy John surgery is typically performed on baseball pitchers who have experienced a UCL tear. The surgery involves replacing the torn UCL with a tendon from another part of the body, usually the forearm or hamstring.

The recovery from Tommy John surgery is typically 12-18 months. During this time, the pitcher will need to gradually increase their throwing intensity and avoid any activities that could put stress on the elbow.

Tommy John Surgery Success Rate

The success rate of Tommy John surgery is high. Approximately 85% of pitchers who undergo the surgery are able to return to pitching at the same level or better than before the injury.

There are a number of factors that can affect the success of Tommy John surgery, including the severity of the UCL tear, the pitcher's age, and the pitcher's rehabilitation program.

Pitchers Who Have Undergone Tommy John Surgery

A number of notable pitchers have undergone Tommy John surgery, including:

• Stephen Strasburg
• Gerrit Cole
• Jacob deGrom
• Max Scherzer
• Justin Verlander

These pitchers have all returned from Tommy John surgery to become successful major league pitchers.