An official verdict on Gerrit Cole’s elbow injury is imminent.
Cole is meeting with Dr. Neal ElAttrache on Monday, manager Aaron Boone told YES Network during the Yankees’ afternoon spring game against the Tigers.
“It’s part of it, unfortunately,” Boone said. “Sometimes you lose guys, sometimes you lose guys of Gerrit Cole’s stature and you’ve gotta be able to handle it and deal with it and maneuver.”
The Yankees have had a few days to brace for a doomsday scenario.
Cole first felt like something wasn’t right in his elbow after his start against the Twins last Thursday when he gave up six runs.
He went for imaging and decided to seek out second opinions to see what the best course of action will be. That’s where the visit with ElAttrache comes in. It was already reported on Sunday night that doctors have recommended Tommy John surgery to Cole, the absolute worst-case scenario to another spring with elbow pain.
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Cole made that same flight out to California last March when he felt discomfort in his elbow. That time, the diagnosis was nerve inflammation and edema, a lucky break in that Cole could rest, rehab and return over the summer.
If Cole gets Tommy John surgery — and it certainly seems like that’s the most probable outcome at this point — then he’ll be sidelined for the entirety of the 2025 season and then some.
“It’s not a death sentence for us, by any means,” Boone added. “It’s an opportunity for someone else and if it is where he has to go get surgery, hopefully that serves us well in the long haul where if he’s compromised at all or in a tough situation, the reality is Gerrit still has a lot of pitching in front of him in his career and pitching with the Yankees. We want that to be as successful as it’s been already. Whatever the course of action is, it is. And we’ll go from there.”
With Cole on the shelf and Luis Gil out for the next three-plus months due to a high-grade lat strain, the Yankees’ starting rotation will need depth pieces to step up early and often this season.
Top pitching prospect Will Warren figures to take Cole’s spot in the starting staff. Marcus Stroman was already plugged back into the starting staff after Gil got hurt.
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Max Goodman may be reached at mgoodman@njadvancemedia.com.
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