New York Yankees' superstar ace Gerrit Cole (35) will leave the field for the time being due to elbow surgery.
Major League Baseball's official website, MLB.com, reported on the 11th (Korea time) that "Yankees right-handed pitcher Gerrit Cole is scheduled to undergo Tommy John surgery on the 12th in Los Angeles. The Yankees are quickly adapting to the reality that Cole will be absent throughout the 2025 season."
Cole is planning to undergo surgery under the care of Dr. Neal ElAttrache at the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic in Los Angeles, California. Dr. ElAttrache is a leading authority in sports surgery in the United States, having performed surgeries on Hyun-Jin Ryu, Lee Jung-Hoo, and Shohei Ohtani. MLB.com noted that "the Yankees organization did not disclose a timeline for Cole's return, but Tommy John surgery typically requires 12 to 18 months for full recovery."
Cole stated through his social media, "When I first put on a Yankees uniform, my goal was to win the World Series in New York. That dream has not changed, and I still believe in that dream and have resolved to achieve it. Today, I decided to undergo Tommy John surgery with the most respected medical professionals in this field. This is news every athlete would want to avoid, but it is a necessary process for my career to move to the next stage."
Cole, who shone with the 2023 American League Cy Young award and six All-Star selections, struggled in a spring training game against the Minnesota Twins on the 7th, allowing six runs over 2⅔ innings, and felt discomfort in his right elbow. Cole had previously experienced elbow pain during spring training last year, which led to him missing the opening day start. This year, after again having issues with his elbow, he ultimately decided on Tommy John surgery, which may require up to 1 year and 6 months of rehabilitation.
Cole joined the Yankees with a massive nine-year, $324 million (approximately 472.1 billion won) contract before the 2020 season. After four years with a remaining contract worth $144 million (approximately 209.7 billion won), Cole, who is going under the knife, said, "I will focus on my rehabilitation and support the Yankees. I will work hard to return to the mound stronger than ever. I will see you soon."
With the season-ending absence of their ace Cole, the Yankees face a crisis in managing their starting rotation for the 2025 season. Luis Gil, who won the American League Rookie of the Year award, is also expected to be out for three months due to a right lat injury, making it unavoidable to deploy a substitute starter. Once regarded as the primary contender against the "absolute powerhouse" Los Angeles Dodgers, the Yankees now find themselves in a position where they cannot guarantee their standing as the top team in the American League East.
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