Zach Eflin is out for the 2026 season after undergoing UCL surgery, a significant blow for the Baltimore Orioles pitching staff. Baldwin underwent season-ending internal brace surgery April 1 to repair a right UCL tear, Brooke Fletcher of the Chicago Sports Network reports. Tommy John surgery repairs an injured or torn UCL in your elbow.

Understanding the Context

It usually takes around a year to recover completely after UCL surgery. UCL reconstruction is a surgery commonly used to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament inside the elbow by replacing it with a tendon from elsewhere in the body. The goal of the surgery is to stabilize the elbow, reduce or eliminate pain and restore stability and range of motion. Ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction surgery, or Tommy John surgery, involves harvesting a tendon from your own body or a cadaver to create a new UCL.

Key Insights

Two popular reconstruction methods are the UCL docking technique and the Jobe technique. Tommy John surgery repairs a torn ulnar collateral ligament (UCL), which is located inside your inner elbow. This ligament connects the bone of your upper arm (humerus) to a bone in the forearm... UCL repair surgery, or Tommy John surgery, is a procedure to treat an injury to the UCL, the soft tissue that connects the bones of the thumb and provides stability to the thumb joint. A torn UCL causes pain and limits mobility in your elbow.

Final Thoughts

Named for the professional baseball pitcher who was first to undergo the procedure in 1974, Tommy John surgery is performed to reduce pain and improve range of motion.