Yankees Ace Gerrit Cole Faces Elbow Scare: Diagnostic Tests Scheduled

The New York Yankees are dealing with another potential blow to their pitching lineup as star pitcher Gerrit Cole is set to undergo diagnostic testing on his pitching elbow in the coming days. This news follows a tough spring training outing against the Minnesota Twins where Cole allowed six runs over just 2.2 innings of work.

While Cole initially reported feeling good during the game, the soreness intensified later at home. He candidly shared, "As I got home, it continued to get more and more sore. Something wasn’t right."

This isn’t the first time Cole has faced elbow issues. Last season, he was sidelined during spring training due to nerve irritation. He didn’t return to the mound until June 19, ultimately finishing the season with an 8-5 record and a 3.41 ERA over 17 starts. Despite the setbacks, Cole was outstanding in the postseason, racking up a 2.17 ERA across five starts during the Yankees’ World Series run.

In an attempt to avoid another injury, Cole had revamped his offseason routine. "We came up with a plan to mitigate the risks, and I executed it," he explained, adding that prior to his last start, he felt the best he had in years. Unfortunately, the soreness he’s now experiencing has him concerned, describing it as "alarming" and admitting it disrupted his sleep.

The Yankees’ pitching rotation is already under strain as Luis Gil is sidelined for six weeks with a high-grade lat strain. Without Cole and Gil, the rotation now includes Max Fried, Carlos Rodon, Clarke Schmidt, and Marcus Stroman, while prospect Will Warren is vying for the fifth spot.

As fans and the Yankees organization wait for more updates on Cole’s condition, one thing is clear: the stakes are high for the team’s starting rotation heading into the season.