The Tommy John Twist, as I discuss in my main article about the topic, is a movement I have long expressed concern about; how you often see the same twist in the wrists of pitchers who have had or will need Tommy John surgery.

Shelby Miller Demonstrating
The Tommy John Twist

The problem with the Tommy John Twist is it's often accompanied by — because it CAUSES — the Timing problem that is the root cause of the majority of arm problems in baseball pitchers.

Tommy John Twist: Overview

I originally referred to this movement using a technical term, Premature Pronation. I then started calling this movement the Tommy John Surgery Twist, because of the position of the wrist and the common result.

Hunter Greene's Tommy John Twist

I've recently shortened that to just the Tommy John Twist.

Casey Mize's Tommy John Twist

The Tommy John Twist results from teaching ballplayers to point the ball at second base and, I believe, contributes to injuries in baseball pitchers by increasing the likelihood they will have a Timing problem.

Aaron Civale's Tommy John Twist

That is a problem for two reasons.

First, studies show that pronating the pitching arm side forearm for an extended period of time will tend to inhibit the external rotation of the pitching arm, leading to a Timing problem and, in the worst case, what I call Flat Arm Syndrome.

Jack Flaherty's
Tommy John Twist
and Timing Problem

Second, pointing the ball at second base reduces or even eliminates the ability of the muscles of the forearm to take some of the load off of the Ulnar Collateral Ligament (UCL), the ligament that is replaced during Tommy John surgery.

Shohei Ohtani's
Tommy John Twist
and Timing Problem

One of the more recent victims of the Tommy John Twist is Alex Reyes of the Cardinals.

Alex Reyes'
Tommy John Twist
and Timing Problem

I give a high-level overview of how and why the Tommy John Twist creates a problem for him in my analysis of Alex Reyes' pitching mechanics.