Cole was scheduled for Tommy John surgery on Tuesday in Los Angeles, with Dr. Neal ElAttrache set to perform the operation.
Although the Yankees hadn’t confirmed by late Tuesday night whether the surgery had been successfully completed, general manager Brian Cashman acknowledged the plans while speaking during the Yankees’ split-squad loss to the Orioles earlier in the afternoon at Steinbrenner Field.
“I haven’t received any updates on how the surgery went,” Cashman stated, “but he’s definitely having it today.” This situation has been a series of setbacks for the Yankees, already dealing with the loss of Luis Gil (due to a high-grade lat strain) to start the season, and now Cole’s absence creating another significant gap in what was expected to be a dominant pitching staff.
However, Cashman hinted at a possible silver lining.
The general manager mentioned that Cole could undergo the newer version of Tommy John surgery, which involves an internal brace. This method is designed to reduce recovery time. Typically, pitchers take 12 to 18 months to return from the procedure, but it tends to be quicker for position players, as seen with top prospect Jasson Domínguez, who had this technique for his elbow reconstruction. Outfield prospect Everson Pereira also had the internal brace surgery last year.
“We’ll have to wait and see once they open him up,” Cashman said.
Regardless of the method, Cole is expected to miss the entire 2025 season. If the internal brace procedure is used, it may allow him to return to the rotation earlier in 2026, assuming all goes as planned.
“Unfortunately, it’s part of the game,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said after Tuesday’s loss to Baltimore in Tampa. “There’s no denying how important Gerrit is to our team and what he’s meant to us. It’s a huge loss, but it’s also a big opportunity for someone else, and we’ll support Gerrit through his rehab. Nothing changes for us in terms of expectations, it will just happen in a different way.”
