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Reds reflect on Jobe's pioneering contribution

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Dr. Frank Jobe, who developed the elbow procedure that became known as Tommy John surgery, died on Thursday at the age of 88. Jobe's pioneering operation would go on to help hundreds of Major League pitchers with elbow injuries continue their careers, including current Reds like Alfredo Simon. Shortstop Zack Cozart had the operation on his left, non-throwing arm.

"I never dealt directly with Dr. Jobe, but I'm certainly aware of the impact that he had," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "You can look at any number of guys that had it and it's an All-Star team."

As a pitching coach, Price had pitchers Edinson Volquez and Rafael Soriano undergo Tommy John surgery and make full recoveries.

"It's a life-saver as a baseball player, a career-saver," Price said. "The thing is, the players coming back from it aren't having a recurrence. It's very rare to have a recurring need for a second Tommy John surgery. ... It was phenomenal what Volquez was able to do post-surgery when I saw him in 2010, the way he was throwing the ball so shortly after the surgery."

Mark Sheldon is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Mark My Word, and follow him on Twitter @m_sheldon.
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