There is a natural stigma associated with jugs that undergo the Tommy John operation twice: how durable can it be after two elbow ligament reconstruction operations and what is the ceiling for its potential?
Jameson Taillon sees the second collateral ligament (UCL) surgery, which he underwent in 2019, differently. He sees it as an unfortunate circumstance that can give him a new opportunity to play efficiently and without persistent pain. He made major changes to his mechanics, shortening his arm path and working to generate more leg strength – both of which could help protect his elbow. “A second life in baseball,” he called it Sunday, shortly after he was traded from the Pittsburgh Pirates to the New York Yankees.
Taillon, 29, says the second elbow surgery opened his eyes to biomechanics and inspired him to recover like a pitcher. After Tommy John’s first surgery in April 2014, Taillon …