Gerrit Cole, the star pitcher for the New York Yankees, underwent tests on his throwing elbow recently, and fortunately, it appears he has dodged the worst-case scenario. According to Jon Heyman of the NY Post, it seems likely that Cole will not require Tommy John surgery, although he may still need to spend one to two months recovering.
During spring training, Cole faced challenges with his elbow between starts, leading the team to send him for an MRI. After consulting with Dr. Neal ElAttrache, it was determined that surgery won’t be necessary. Instead, Cole, who is 33 years old, will focus on rest, rehabilitation, and non-surgical treatments. There’s a possibility he could return to the team by May or June.
While the Yankees will miss having Cole on the mound at the start of the season, avoiding surgery is a relief. His potential midseason return will undoubtedly bolster the team. In the meantime, the Yankees may explore acquiring pitching help during his absence.
With Cole sidelined, the Yankees are still deciding who will take the mound as the Opening Day starter when they face the Houston Astros on March 28.