Coming back from Tommy John surgery is no great feat. Returning after a second such operation is nearly miraculous…just ask Los Angeles Dodgers reliever Brian Wilson and New York Yankees set up man Shawn Kelley.
But getting back into the swing of things following a third Tommy John operation? Yeah, Atlanta Braves lefty Jonny Venters might have his work cut out for him.
Jonny Venters says after talking to Dr Andrews and his family, that he will give it another shot and undergo a third Tommy John. #Braves
— Kevin McAlpin (@KevinMcAlpin) August 29, 2014
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It was revealed Friday that the reliever will go under the knife after tearing his ulnar collateral ligament a third time.
Venters had his first Tommy John surgery in the minors, following the 2005 season. He’d end up missing the entire 2006 season and parts of 2007. He reached the Majors in April 2010, but was on the operating table, again, a little more than three years later. The reliever had recently begun a throwing program when it was determined he’d need Tommy John surgery for a third time.
And, yeah, in case you were wondering…former closer Jason Isringhausen is the only guy out there who has been able to return after having the procedure three times. At just 29, and with, seemingly, a ton of life in his arm…Venters looks to become the second.
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