Top 10 MLB Players Who Had Surgery Done by Dr. Lewis Yokum
Top 10 MLB Players Who Had Surgery Done by Dr. Lewis Yokum
When it comes to sports medicine there are a few names that rise above all others. Dr. Lewis Yokum one of the top few names in the field and has been one of the main surgeons specializing in the art that has become Tommy John Surgery. With the untimely death of Dr. Yokum it becomes evident that there are several Major Leaguers that owe their career to his specialty. Of course our thoughts are with his wife and two kids as well as the rest of his family and friends during this time.
Among other accolades he was the Los Angeles Angels team physician for 36 years. One of the more special achievements in his life was surely being the protégé of Dr. Frank Jobe when he invented the operation to repair the ulnar collateral ligament in the elbow. That original surgery was done on Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Tommy John. That is where the current name for the surgery comes from and now it is referred to as Tommy John Surgery. Not only was Dr. Yokum a specialist on the operation, he was there when the first one happened.
Not only is Yokum famous for operating on athletes but also is well known for being sought for advice. Among other situations he was consulted once on a shoulder problem of Pedro Martinez. He suggested that Martinez be shut down because of the situation. Initially the Boston Red Sox went against his advice but as is the case time and time again, Yokum wound up being correct and Martinez and the Red Sox took the necessary precautions.
Not counting the Martinez Situation, what follows is a list of ten of the top MLB players that had a career saved because of the talents of Dr. Yokum. Without a doubt the loss of Yokum is a massive loss for the field of sports medicine. As someone recently said, he was a giant of sports medicine. More importantly, by all accounts he was also a wonderful person.
David Miller is a Senior Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @davidmillerrant, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google+.
10-Daniel Hudson-Arizona Diamondbacks
Hudson is one of the newer patients that Dr. Yokum has operated on. He is still working his way back with the Diamondbacks.
9-C.J. Willson-Los Angeles Angels
Wilson is a promising pitcher for the team Dr. Yokum was the team doctor for. He cared for the Angels his entire career and Wilson was another patient.
8-Francisco Liriano-Pittsburgh Pirates
Liriano was fixed up by Yokum in 2007 and is still going strong today for the Pirates.
7-Adrian Beltre-Texas Rangers
Beltre is proof of the fact that many athletes were cared for by Dr. Yokum that weren’t pitchers and that had other operations than the elbow repair. He had bone spurs removed from his shoulder and has no ill effects from it today.
6-Ted Lilly-Los Angeles Dodgers
Lilly is just getting ready to return to health for the Dodgers.
5-Robb Nen-San Francisco Giants
Dr. Yokum saw Robb Nen towards the end of his successful career, most of which was spent with the Giants.
4-John Lackey-Boston Red Sox
The success of John Lackey so far this season is a testament to the repeated success of Dr. Yokum’s work.
3-Roy Halladay-Philadelphia Phillies
Halladay has the distinction of being one of the last athletes that Yokum operated on.
2-Jordan Zimmerman-Washington Nationals
Zimmerman is one of two current Nationals players that was fixed up correctly by Dr. Yokum. He now is the most dominant pitcher in the National League.
1-Stephen Strasburg-Washington Nationals
Probably the most famous current player to be operated on by Dr. Yokum was Stephen Strasburg. Yokum was famous for being asked about his infamous innings limit. He said that he agreed with that estimate and however strange it might have seemed, it certainly seems to have worked.
