The New York Yankees were just three wins away from securing their first World Series title since 2009 last season. However, things have taken a drastic turn for the worse since then. The team lost star outfielder Juan Soto to the rival New York Mets in free agency, and now, it looks like Cy Young Award winner Gerrit Cole may be facing an injury that could sideline him for the entire 2025 season before it even starts.
Cole recently reported discomfort during a throwing session in Spring Training. After undergoing tests on his right elbow, he expressed concern about what the results might reveal. “I still have some hope. I’m just waiting for the experts to weigh in,” he said.
However, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman did little to ease fans’ worries when asked about Cole’s injury.
“I’m prepared for the worst,” Cashman said on Sunday. “We’ll see how it plays out. I’m always wired to think the worst and hope for the best.”
This could have just been Cashman lowering expectations and hoping for the best, but players and general managers often have a sense of how severe an injury is right after it occurs. As it turns out, the situation was just as bad as both Cashman and Cole feared.
According to Chris Kirschner and Jim Bowden of The Athletic, doctors have recommended Tommy John surgery to repair the ulnar collateral ligament in Cole’s throwing arm. The 34-year-old six-time All-Star has never had the surgery before, but there’s some hope for a positive outcome.
Similar to an ACL tear in football, Tommy John surgery is no longer a career-ending procedure for pitchers. Both 2024 NL Cy Young winner Chris Sale and Philadelphia Phillies ace Zach Wheeler underwent the surgery and returned even stronger. However, the Yankees are in a win-now mode, and Cole will be 36 by the time he’s able to rejoin the rotation. Just five months ago, the Yankees were on the verge of returning to dominance in baseball, but things have quickly taken a turn, and now those optimistic hopes seem distant as New York begins a new season.
