There is a natural stigma associated with early pitchers undergoing Tommy John surgery twice: how long can it last after two elbow ligament reconstruction surgeries and what is the limit of its potential?
Jameson Taillon sees his second ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) surgery, which he underwent in 2019, differently. He sees it as an unfortunate circumstance that can give him a new chance to throw effectively and without persistent pain. He has made major changes to his mechanics, shortening the length of his arm and working to generate more power in his legs, which can help protect his elbow. “A second life in baseball,” he called it Sunday, shortly after being traded from the Pittsburgh Pirates to the New York Yankees.
Taillon, 29, says his second elbow surgery opened his eyes to the field of biomechanics and inspired him to recover as a pitcher. After his first Tommy John surgery in April 2014, Taillon …