Gerrit Cole will be out for at least a month with an elbow injury, according to the New York Yankees. This article discusses what this means for the squad and how they plan to deal with his absence.
Earlier this week, manager Aaron Boone said the last words everyone associated with the New York Yankees wanted to hear: Gerrit Cole, MRI, and elbow. Cole, the team’s ace and Cy Young champion, was sent for an elbow MRI after experiencing recovery troubles between starts.
The Yankees announced that they would shut down the starting pitcher for one to two months. However, he required additional testing and views to assess his rehabilitation choices. The latest news is that the initial discovery of no tear is correct, and he does not require surgery. This is the best-case situation, as Cole should be able to return after some rest and recuperation.
Cole is the team’s most significant player, beside Aaron Judge. His injury will keep him out of action for an extended amount of time, but what does this mean for the future?
The good news for the Yankees is that the initial MRI revealed no tear of the UCL, which was their major concern. However, Cole has been sidelined for at least a month and will start the season on the disabled list. He may miss more time, depending on how he heals and how long it takes to build back up, but it appears that he and the Yankees have gotten lucky.
Boone compared Cole’s rehabilitation to his pitching performance during the season.When he’s at 45 [pitches] and working his way up to 55, he doesn’t normally have the recovery troubles he does now. I believe there is some discomfort, but I would not say he is in pain.
Cole began one Spring Training game against the Toronto Blue Jays earlier this month before pitching in a simulated game against Yankees hitters a few days later. In his start against the Blue Jays, he allowed three runs and four hits in two innings. Following the two appearances, he showed no signs of pain or discomfort, thus the news of his injury came as a surprise.
Everyone linked with the Yankees has breathed a great sense of relief. The worst-case scenario was Tommy John surgery, which would have kept him out until September 2025. This would have been a devastating blow to both Cole and the Yankees. However, the 33-year-old appears to have avoided this consequence.
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