Rockies Rank Well Despite League-Wide Tommy John Surgery Trend.

The Colorado Rockies endured a historically poor 2025 season, but widespread elbow surgery among pitchers was not a major factor in their struggles. Across Major League Baseball, Tommy John surgery has become increasingly common, yet the Rockies were among the teams least affected. Tommy John surgery, first performed more than 50 years ago by Dr. Frank Jobe, repairs a torn ulnar collateral ligament in a pitcher’s throwing arm. Named after pitcher Tommy John, the procedure has helped extend countless careers and is now a routine part of modern baseball. While teams would prefer their pitchers avoid the operation, injuries have made it almost unavoidable throughout the sport. Baseball analyst Jon Roegele examined every MLB pitching staff from the 2025 season to determine how many pitchers had undergone Tommy John surgery at any point in their careers, whether as amateurs or professionals. His findings showed that 39.1 percent of all MLB pitchers had received the surgery. Compared to many teams, the Rockies were relatively fortunate.

Only seven Colorado pitchers used during the 2025 season had a history of Tommy John surgery. That total ranked fourth-lowest in baseball, trailing only the Milwaukee Brewers, Cleveland Guardians, and St. Louis Cardinals. Among the Rockies pitchers with the surgery were Germán Márquez and Antonio Senzatela, along with several younger arms. Márquez, a long-time Rockies starter and now a free agent, underwent surgery in May 2023. His recovery kept him sidelined for much of the 2024 season, though he had previously been one of the team’s most dependable pitchers, recording four seasons with at least ten wins.

Another notable case was McCade Brown, who was promoted directly from Double-A late in the 2025 season. Drafted in the second round in 2021, Brown’s development had been slowed by Tommy John surgery. His promotion not only gave him major league experience but also protected him from the Rule 5 Draft, signaling the organization’s belief in his long-term potential. As the Rockies continue rebuilding under new leadership, the organization hopes its young pitching talent can remain healthy and avoid major surgeries. Even so, in today’s game, recovery from Tommy John surgery is often expected rather than feared, reflecting how deeply the procedure has become embedded in professional baseball.