The New York Yankees faced concerning injury news on Monday as their ace, Gerrit Cole, is scheduled for an MRI on his throwing elbow due to discomfort experienced during spring training.
With just over two weeks until the Yankees’ season opener against the Houston Astros on March 28, Cole’s availability for Opening Day is potentially in jeopardy.
Manager Aaron Boone informed reporters that Cole’s recovery between starts in spring training has not been as anticipated, prompting the decision to send him for an MRI.
“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. When he’s at 45 [pitches] and building to 55, he usually doesn’t have the recovery issues he’s having,” Boone stated.
Boone mentioned that the team might seek multiple opinions on Cole’s elbow, and it may take a few days for the results to be available. According to Andy Martino of SNY, the MRI for Cole is a precautionary measure, and there isn’t excessive concern within the team regarding the situation, with the expectation that they won’t lose their ace for an extended period.
Cole, aged 33, has been the Yankees’ Opening Day starter every season since joining the team in 2020. In 2023, the six-time All-Star clinched the American League Cy Young Award after registering a 2.63 ERA with 222 strikeouts across 209 innings.
