The star player for New York got a significant upgrade after addressing elbow problems.
Gerrit Cole, the star pitcher for the New York Yankees, has missed time due to an elbow ailment he sustained during spring training.
According to MLB.com, the Yankees have learned a lot about Cole’s injury, and the AL Cy Young Award winner is still recovering.
On April 16, Cole improved his throwing distance to 75 feet in New York. On April 17, he was supposed to throw again; this will be the first time he’s thrown on consecutive days since being hurt. Cole’s improvement has been gradual but steady. On April 8, he made 25 throws at 60 feet and reported feeling “great.” On April 11, his second throwing session went well.
On March 11, Cole had an MRI after he reported having trouble recovering from his spring training sessions. He compared his degree of exhaustion to what he would typically experience following 100 pitches thrown during the regular season. On March 12, Cole had more testing, and on March 14, he saw Dr. Neal ElAttrache in Los Angeles. ElAttrache attested to Cole’s ulnar collateral ligament being undamaged.
Cole was informed during that visit that his injured right elbow could be treated conservatively with rest and rehabilitation, with the goal of getting back into the rotation in ten to twelve weeks. On April 17, manager Aaron Boone stated that Cole’s return to mound pitching is not scheduled.
The fact that Cole is improving and looks like he won’t need elbow surgery is fantastic news for the Yankees.
With a 13-6 record, the Yankees are presently atop the AL East. With Juan Soto and Aaron Judge in the lineup, the squad has a lot of power, but thus far, New York’s pitching has been outstanding.
The Yankees’ offense ranks 14th in the majors in runs scored and 13th in batting average, but their pitching is third in team ERA, tenth in WHIP, and second in opponent batting average. The Yankees rank 14th in slugging but third in on-base percentage.
Even if the Yankees’ return to the top looks inevitable, it’s important to keep in mind that, only a few months ago, the team appeared to be at its lowest point before the offseason optimism of the Juan Soto deal ignited this wave of positive energy. To get the Yanks to this point, a lot of things had to go right.
The Yankees’ success in 2024 has been largely attributed to a number of factors, including Anthony Volpe’s breakout, Giancarlo Stanton’s seeming ability to turn back the clock, an unbeatable bullpen, and role players coming through in the clutch. The team’s chances of making it back into the postseason will only increase if Gerrit Cole returns healthy, perhaps in June.
