The Los Angeles Dodgers sent shockwaves and excitement across the baseball world when they announced on Sunday that Shohei Ohtani will finally make his much-anticipated pitching debut for the team. This comes after 21 months of rehabilitation following his second Tommy John surgery.
While the expectation is that Ohtani will return to his previous dominant level of performance on the mound, not everyone has been as successful following their second Tommy John procedure.
The Dodgers Hope Shohei Ohtani’s Return Will Be Similar to Jacob deGrom
MLB insider Thomas Harrigan tracked the careers of some notable pitchers who had a second Tommy John surgery. The Dodgers are certainly hoping Ohtani can have the success that Jacob deGrom has had following his second procedure.
DeGrom had his first procedure while he was in the New York Mets’ farm system. He returned and become one of Major League Baseball’s elite pitchers, winning back-to-back National League Cy Young Awards.
DeGrom left the Mets to sign with the Texas Rangers in 2023. He put together a 2.67 ERA in his first six starts before undergoing another Tommy John surgery. DeGrom returned at the end of the 2024 season and posted a 1.69 ERA. DeGrom is currently seventh in the American League this season with a 2.19 ERA.
Jacob deGrom’s 3Ks in the 3rd.
5Ks thru 3. pic.twitter.com/sI6KmQ3JlX
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) June 14, 2025
Nathan Eovaldi
Nathan Eovaldi had his first Tommy John surgery while he was in high school, which caused him to fall to the 11th round of the 2008 MLB draft. After several solid years, his career took off as a member of the New York Yankees before he had his second Tommy John surgery.
Once healthy, Eovaldi broke out with the Boston Red Sox, where he became an All-Star and helped the team win the World Series in 2018. He left Boston to sign with Texas during the 2022 off-season, helping the Rangers win the 2023 World Series in his first season there. Eovaldi went 5-0 with a 2.95 ERA during the postseason.
Nathan Eovaldi is all of us. 😅 pic.twitter.com/ZAqTuBe0Cq
— Cut4 (@Cut4) October 23, 2023
Jameson Taillon
The Pittsburgh Pirates selected Jameson Taillon second overall in the 2010 MLB Draft after he had a dominant high school pitching career. Tallion’s major-league debut was delayed after having Tommy John surgery in 2014.
When Taillon finally arrived in 2016, he provided top-of-the-rotation production for the Pirates. He also battled an assortment of injuries, including testicular cancer and another Tommy John surgery. Taillon recovered from his second surgery to help the New York Yankees and, currently, the Chicago Cubs.
Jameson Taillon, Dirty 84mph Changeup. 👌 pic.twitter.com/u746sKPJGM
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 20, 2025
Hyun Jin Ryu
Hyun Jin Ryu had Tommy John surgery in high school, but recovered to win a championship before turning pro. He dominated the Korean Baseball League, winning Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player honors in the same season.
Ultimately, he set his sights on pitching in America and signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2013. Ryu spent six seasons with the team, winning an ERA title and starting the All-Star Game among his highlights.
Ryu signed an $80 million contract with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2019, and his first season was a success. He helped the team return to the playoffs and finished third in American League Cy Young Award voting. However, he was never the same pitcher after dealing with elbow soreness the following season that led to another Tommy John surgery.
Josh Johnson
Josh Johnson recovered from having Tommy John surgery after his rookie year to become a two-time All-Star for the now-Miami Marlins. He was one of the most dominant pitchers in the National League for multiple stretches.
However, his elbow broke down again following a trade to the Toronto Blue Jays in 2012. He had a 6.80 ERA in 16 starts for the Blue Jays before elbow pain caused him to have two more Tommy John surgeries, forcing him to retire.