New York Yankees starting pitcher Gerrit Cole experienced discomfort in his right elbow during his second MLB spring training start Thursday against the Minnesota Twins. Cole underwent tests and imaging on Friday to evaluate the injury.
There were concerns about the severity of Cole’s injury and whether he could miss the entire 2025 MLB season. Cole’s absence leaves a major hole in the Yankees’ starting rotation with Luis Gil already sidelined for the first few months of the season with a lat injury.
Yankees Pitcher Gerrit Cole Recommended To Have Tommy John Surgery
CBS Sports Jimmy Bowden reported over the weekend that Cole has been recommended for Tommy John surgery, though the Yankees are awaiting a second opinion..
One MLB fan reacted to the news on X, saying the “Yankees ‘Championship Window’ on life support.”
New York went to the World Series last season before they lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Another fan said, “The Yankees season is over before it even began.”
Some fans even connected the news to Juan Soto’s departure. One tweeted, “Juan Soto knew something and left before the ship sank,” referencing his move to the Mets this offseason.
The New York Mets are dealing with injuries of their own, but for some reason, the Yankees’ situation is drawing more attention.
A Baltimore Orioles fan thinks that they have it worse than the Yankees despite the Cole news, adding, “That’s ok Cole and Yanks fans. It could be worse,” they said before listing out their own numerous ailments.
One Yankees fan thinks that the 2025 season has the potential to be a disaster: “I think this might be the worst Yankees season since 1990.”
Last season, Cole made just 17 starts for the Yankees. He pitched 95 innings, allowing 78 hits and 38 runs. He walked 29 batters and struck out 99, finishing with a 1.12 WHIP.
Later on March 10, ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported that Cole will “undergo Tommy John surgery tomorrow [March 11] to repair a torn right ulnar collateral ligament and miss the 2025 season.” This is a massive blow for the Yankees, a clubhouse already ravaged by injuries.