New York Yankees ace Gerrit Cole is scheduled to undergo an MRI after experiencing “discomfort” in his right elbow, manager Aaron Boone told reporters in Clearwater, Florida on Monday morning as reported by Bryan Hoch of MLB.com.
Boone mentioned that the reigning American League Cy Young Award winner has not been recovering as expected between outings during Spring Training. Cole likened the discomfort to what he feels during the season after 100 pitches.
“His recovery, before getting to his next start, has been more akin to what he feels during the season when he’s making 100 pitches,” Boone told reporters. “When he’s at 45 [pitches] and building to 55, he usually doesn’t have the recovery issues he’s having.” Boone continued explaining how Cole is feeling by saying, “I think there’s a level of discomfort, but I wouldn’t describe it as he’s in pain.”
Cole was expected to make his second spring training start Tuesday. He gave up three runs over two-plus innings in his debut against the Toronto Blue Jays on March 1. Six days later, he threw 47 pitches across three innings in a simulated game. He did not report any discomfort in talking with reporters afterward.
Reporters in Clearwater later asked fellow Yankees rotation piece Nestor Cortes about his feelings on the news concerning Cole and he explained:
“He’s a big part of this rotation. It’s tough to hear the news. He’s so well aware of his body. He knows what he’s doing in and out throughout the whole year. … I feel like this is something that he’s trying to get ahead of. Obviously, it’s alarming for everybody. I know he’s been dealing with some stuff, as is every pitcher in Spring Training. I didn’t know how serious it was until now.”
Losing Cole would be a detrimental blow to the Yankees this season. If he is to miss extended time, other high-priced free agents like Blake Snell and Jordan Montgomery remain on the market, but it remains to be seen as to what the diagnosis will be. If Cole needs to miss significant time, the Yankees’ depth options include Luke Weaver, Clayton Beeter, Will Warren, and Luis Gil. Fans can expect that in a best-case scenario, Cole will miss some time regardless. Cole is signed through at least 2028, so the Yankees have to keep the long view in mind, too, even with the recent trade acquisition of Juan Soto firmly positioning the club as a “win-now” team.
The 33-year-old has been a workhorse for the Yankees since signing a $324 million contract before the 2020 season. In the four seasons since no one has pitched more innings than Cole’s 664. Cole has never undergone Tommy John surgery in his already impressive career, and that is considered an anomaly in today’s MLB landscape. Since his debut in 2013, only two other pitchers have made more starts than Cole who currently sits at 300.
As it currently stands, the Yankees do not plan to have a prognosis for Cole today, or possibly even tomorrow as reported by Bryan Hoch.
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