The New York Yankees continue making adjustments, but a bigger change is looming as the team revealed some tough news about Gerrit Cole’s elbow. Unfortunately, he will not be available for Opening Day, or for much of the season.
According to information released by the Yankees, Cole will need surgery to repair his elbow through the well-known Tommy John procedure, scheduled for March 11. This confirms that he will miss the rest of the season with the team.
This is the same issue the Yankees faced with Cole at the start of the 2024 MLB season when he was unable to play for several months. However, this time the situation is much worse, as he won’t be able to return until the next season, assuming he fully recovers.
Cole is crucial to the Yankees’ rotation; he is the team’s ace. However, the Yankees also have one of the best rotations available, featuring pitchers like Rodón, Stroman, and Fried, who are expected to be the top three in the 2025 season.
Details of Gerrit Cole’s Surgery
Neal ElAttrache will be the surgeon performing the procedure on Cole’s right elbow aims to repair a torn right ulnar collateral ligament (UCL). This type of injury is quite common among pitchers and athletes who use their arms in the repetitive motions typical in baseball.
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Although the Yankees have not specified how long Cole could be sidelined, this type of surgery can vary in recovery time depending on the reconstruction needed. Recovery could range from 9 months to a year, or even longer, depending on how the individual responds to rehabilitation.
