The number of pitchers that have been lost this season due to the need for Tommy John surgery has surged from its average and it’s only the end of April. The man himself, Tommy John, spoke about the surgery that has become commonplace in today's MLB.

John spoke of the surgery that he has become famous for, and called 2014 “unreal” due to the sheer amount of cases this early in the season. John elaborated on what he knows about the surgery and its major causes.

"Throwing pitches in the big leagues will not hurt your arm. It's what you did down the road when you were younger. ... In essence, the injury itself is a buildup of over-use. And not overuse as an adult, but overuse as a kid.

"What I would like to see these guys do, these surgeons and all, is ask all the guys who have had the surgery -- 'How much did you pitch as a kid and how often, and did you pitch year round?' And nowadays, probably 70 to 80 percent of the pitchers today have been pitching 12 months a year since they were seven, eight or nine years old. And your arm is not made for that.”

John pitched 15 more seasons after his successful surgery back in 1974. The left-handed John won 288 in his 26-year major league career, but will always be remembered for the surgery that has become an epidemic for pitchers young and old in todays baseball. There have been no major breakthroughs to the surgery in recent years and the estimated recovery time remains at 9-13 months depending on the player.

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