Watching the Dodgers/Phillies game last night, it was brought to my attention that Hong-Chih Kuo has had two Tommy John surgeries. This surprised me because in general, after the second TJ you are pretty much done. Usually they have a hard time even deciding if you need a second one, because the first reconstruction pretty much destroys your ability to read an MRI on the elbow.
This of course brought me to the Wikipedia page on the subject, which, in true Wikipedia fashion, lists every athlete that has ever had the procedure. The only guys who have had it multiple times are:
Chris Capuano (2)
Dave Eiland (2)
Chad Fox (3)
Hong-Chih Kuo (2)
Mike Lincoln (2)
Scott Mathieson (2)
Matt Riley (3)
Jose Rijo (3)
Vance Wilson (2)
Victor Zambrano (2)
Jeff Zimmerman (2)
Note Vance Wilson (a freaking catcher) is on the list.
Anyway, obviously it’s a short list. And Kuo has had by far the most successful career after a second TJ. (Rijo might have him beat — when was Rijo’s second? Google is failing me here.)
Actually that Wikipedia list really isn’t complete. Here’s a more comprehensive one from the BR Bullpen, which says Rijo had it done four times (WTF?) and also lists Tim Spooneybarger and Scott Williamson as two-timers. This may not be comprehensive either: a little googling shows that Kent Mercker also may have had it twice.