TAMPA, Fla. – The Yankees are swiftly adjusting to the reality that they will be without Gerrit Cole for the entire 2025 season, as the club announced that the ace right-hander is scheduled to undergo Tommy John surgery on Tuesday in Los Angeles.
Cole traveled to the West Coast to be examined at Cedars-Sinai Kerlan-Jobe Institute by Dr. Neal ElAttrache, who has been selected to perform the procedure. The Yankees did not provide an expected timetable for Cole’s return, but pitchers generally need 12 to 18 months for a full recovery.
“From the time I first dreamed of wearing the Yankees uniform, my goal has always been to help bring a World Series championship to New York,” Cole said on Instagram. “That dream hasn’t changed – I still believe in it, and I’m more determined than ever to achieve it.
“Today, the most respected medical experts in the field recommend that I undergo Tommy John surgery. This isn’t the news any athlete wants to hear, but it’s the necessary next step for my career.”
A six-time All-Star who won the 2023 American League Cy Young Award, the 34-year-old Cole experienced discomfort following a rocky Grapefruit League start on Thursday, when he allowed six runs in 2 2/3 innings to the Twins. That prompted an initial round of diagnostic imaging, which Cole said left him “concerned.”
It marked the second consecutive spring with an injury issue for Cole, who was sidelined last March by right elbow inflammation and edema that delayed his regular-season debut until June.
“We knew where he was at the end of the year; I think we even MRIed him [after the World Series] and were in a really good spot,” manager Aaron Boone said earlier Monday. “His winter program, his throwing program ramp-up, it all went well.
“You understand, especially the mileage he has on and what he went through last year, there’s always that risk.”
Cole has four years and $144 million remaining on his contract with the Yankees. He opted out shortly after the World Series, but he and the club soon agreed to continue with the contract as initially signed prior to the 2020 season.
“I have a lot left to give, and I’m fully committed to the work ahead,” Cole wrote in his post. “I’ll attack my rehab every day and support the 2025 Yankees each step of the way. I love this game, I love competing, and I can’t wait to be back on the mound – stronger than ever. See you soon.”
The Yanks have been slammed by injuries this spring. The rotation has also lost AL Rookie of the Year Luis Gil, who is expected to miss at least three months with a right lat strain.
Designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton and infielder DJ LeMahieu are among the position players expected to begin the season on the injured list.
With Cole shelved, New York’s other starters include Max Fried, Carlos Rodón, Marcus Stroman and Clarke Schmidt. Rookie right-hander Will Warren is a leading candidate to draw starts at the back of the rotation.
The 25-year-old Warren has pitched to a 1.54 ERA across 11 2/3 innings this spring. He was 0-3 with a 10.32 ERA in six games (five starts) at the big league level last season. Non-roster invitees Carlos Carrasco and Allan Winans are also in the mix.
“Look, there’s no sugarcoating with Gerrit Cole – we all understand who he is to our team and how important he is to our club,” Boone said. “Unfortunately, sometimes it’s part of the game.
“We missed him for the first couple of months last year [at] this time of year. It created opportunities that guys stepped up in. Whatever happens, whatever it is, we’re going to support our guy and try to get him right and be there for him. It doesn’t change the expectations of the group.”