Tommy John Surgery. As a pitcher, those are three words you never want to hear, because it has the potential to be career-ending news. But, as minor league baseball teams tend to do, they’re taking something and turning it into a fun, original promotional product.
In this case, the Potomac Nationals are giving away an “Ode to Tommy John Surgery” bobble…arm?
The Ode to Tommy John Surgery Elbow Statue Giveaway is Sat. July 8, presented by @AndersonClinic! First 1,250.
Tix: https://t.co/3mB99c38KH pic.twitter.com/tyZZVDhGKn— Fredericksburg Nationals (@FXBGNats) June 27, 2017
On July 8, the team—which is the Washington Nationals’ single-A affiliate—will commemorate the first time that Dr. Frank Jobe first performed the ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction (commonly known as Tommy John surgery) in 1974.
Yahoo Sports reported that the item might even be modeled after Nationals ace Stephen Strasburg, who underwent the surgery in 2010 shortly after making his big league debut.
Thankfully for the Nationals, Strasburg’s surgery was a success, but that’s not always the case. This seems like an unnecessary risk for a team to jinx pitchers. Hopefully the next giveaway is a big ol’ wooden block for fans to knock on.
