New York Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole is reportedly dealing with an elbow issue during spring training.
Cole took the mound for his second spring training appearance on Thursday, in an 8-4 loss to the Minnesota Twins at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Florida. He allowed six earned runs in just 2.2 innings of work.
On Friday, MLB Network’s Jon Morosi reported that Cole is undergoing diagnostic tests on his throwing elbow. His injury status is expected to become clearer in the next few days.
Cole faced a similar elbow issue during spring training in 2024, which was later diagnosed as nerve inflammation in his right elbow.
He attributed the problem to pushing himself too hard too quickly in his spring training appearances that year. Although Cole avoided surgery, his recovery caused him to miss the first 75 games of the 2024 season.
In November, Cole exercised the opt-out clause in the fifth year of his nine-year, $324 million contract with the Yankees, which he signed before the 2020 season.
However, both sides eventually agreed to maintain the contract as is. Cole is still owed $144 million over the next four years. Despite missing half of last season, Cole had a strong 2024 campaign, finishing with a 3.41 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP over 17 starts.
