New York Yankees' Ace Set to Miss Significant Time with Injury, Fear Over Surgery Certainly Present
After having an MRI on Monday and learning that he won't be ready for the start of the season, New York Yankees' ace Gerrit Cole is now expected to miss significant time with injury.
Per Jon Heyman of the New York Post:
Yankees ace Gerrit Cole will be out at least one-to-two months and will head to Los Angeles for an appointment with noted sports surgeon Dr. Neal ElAttrache, The Post has learned.
Several Yankees doctors and ElAttrache have viewed Cole’s preliminary film, and while none has detected a tear in his ulnar collateral ligament, there’s enough concern about the ligament that ElAttrache has suggested an in-person visit.
Word is that the defending AL Cy Young Award winner will be out for an “extended period,” although for now, the hope and belief is that Cole has a chance to return sometime in May or early June.
Again, as of now, Tommy John surgery is not being mentioned, but some in the industry fear that will end up being the result.
Dr. David Chao, who was formerly the team doctor for the San Diego Chargers of the NFL, runs his own sports injury website now and said that his fear is that TJ surgery might happen.
Increasingly looking like Tommy John might be needed
The website also posted the following on Cole's player page:
Team reportedly getting second and third opinions on elbow MRI - looking increasingly likely that he undergoes a TJ surgery and missed the 2024 season
Cole went 15-4 last season and won the Cy Young in the American League. His presence is one of the major reasons why the Yankees are a potential favorite in the American League.
Without Cole, it looks like Marcus Stroman will now draw the Opening Day start.
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