Former pitching great Tommy John hospitalized with COVID-19

Tommy John has been battling COVID-19 for at least three weeks, but former pitching great disputes reports that he is a coronavirus denier. “I'm t a denier. I've had it, baby,” John said during a telephone interview with Associated Press on Wednesday. 77-year-old John remains hospitalized near his home in Indio, California. He said he started to feel ill following a trip to Nashville before he was hospitalized on Dec. 13.

John said he has had a bout of pneumonia and did receive oxygen, but is t presently on oxygen. He said biggest side effect at moment is he has strength in his legs. As far as some of or symptoms associated with COVID-19, such as loss of taste or smell, John said he didn't experience those. “I feel good. only thing right w is trying to arrange for someone to do physical rapy from my home,” he said.

John pitched for six teams over a 26-year career from 1963-89. He is widely kwn for undergoing groundbreaking ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction surgery on his left elbow in 1974 that bears his name. He went on to win 20 games three times, once with Los Angeles Dodgers in 1977 and twice with New York Yankees (1979-80).While John is t denying coronavirus, his son has been more outspoken. Tommy John III, a chiropractor who lives in San Diego, has taken to social media saying “this was never a pandemic.”

(Im Credit: AP)