New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone told the media that reigning American League Cy Young Award winner Gerrit Cole will undergo an MRI on his right elbow. Meanwhile, ESPN Major League Baseball insider Jeff Passan said the Yankees scheduled the examination because Cole had problems with recovery.
Cole finished the 2023 season with a 15-4 record and an AL-leading 2.63 earned run average. He threw two shutouts in 33 games started and led the majors with a 0.981 WHIP. The six-time MLB All-Star struck out 222 batters in 209 innings.
Aaron Boone announced earlier today that Gerrit Cole will undergo an MRI on his right elbow. @JackCurryYES has the latest. #YANKSonYES pic.twitter.com/GQHzc5416O
— YES Network (@YESNetwork) March 11, 2024
Since 2017, Cole had 206 starts and 1,279.2 innings pitched, the most in MLB during the seven-season stretch. Meanwhile, he last pitched during the 2024 Spring Training on March 1, throwing two innings.
While no one knows the severity of Cole’s condition, his absence will be a big blow to the Yankees. Since joining the Bronx Bombers in 2020, he has been a two-time All-MLB First Team member. He was also the 2022 strikeout leader and the 2023 AL ERA leader. Cole was the 2021 AL wins leader with 16.
Cole joined the Yankees via a nine-year, $324 million contract he signed in December 2019. Before joining New York’s AL team, he played two seasons for the Houston Astros. Cole started his MLB career with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2013 and played there until 2017.
As of the 2023 season, Gerrit Cole has 145 wins and a career 3.17 ERA. He struck out 2,152 batters and had a 1.087 WHIP in 1,859 innings. He has five shutouts and eight complete games.
-Lance Fernandez