Tommy John passes as Isotopes facing pitching surgery prevalence

Tommy John, a notable MLB pitcher who lent his name to the common surgical procedure, died at 83 in Florida. His passing coincided with an unintended tribute during an Albuquerque Isotopes game, where nine out of 17 active pitchers on the roster have undergone Tommy John surgery. This trend reflects a significant reality in modern baseball, where surgeries have become routine. The Isotopes recently suffered back-to-back shutout losses to Oklahoma City, raising concerns as they prepare to face the Las Vegas Aviators in a six-game series starting Tuesday.

• 3:04 AMYahoo Sports — Topes Notes: Isotopes' accidental Tommy John tribute is a sign of times