Yankees' Gerrit Cole to undergo more tests on elbow, Opening Day in doubt
Yankees manager Aaron Boone did not have an update Tuesday on the results of Gerrit Cole's MRI, with the manager telling reporters that Cole will have more testing.
"It’s still probably going to be a couple of days until everybody weighs in on it," Boone added.
Regardless of what the additional tests reveal, Boone said it's unlikely that Cole will be ready for Opening Day.
The right-hander has made just one Grapefruit League start this spring, and his last action came during a simulated game on March 7.
SNY's Andy Martino reported on Monday that the word "precautionary" was being used regarding Cole's elbow and that the "initial feeling is not one of extreme concern."
While explaining the situation on Monday, Boone said that Cole has been having trouble with his recovery between starts, with Cole feeling like he does during the regular season after 100 pitches.
The 33-year-old is coming off of one of his best seasons. Earning his first career Cy Young award for his effort, Cole pitched to a 2.63 ERA while striking out 222 hitters in 209 innings.
Cole has been everything the Yankees expected him to be when they signed him to a massive nine-year, $324 million contract prior to the 2020 season. During his four seasons in a Yankees uniform, Cole has compiled a 3.27 ERA while finishing top four in Cy Young voting three times.
The right-hander has also been extremely durable as a Yankee, making 30-plus regular season starts in the last three years (his 2020 season was just 12 starts due to the pandemic-shortened season).
The only history that Cole has with elbow issues came back in 2016, when he hit the 60-day injured list with right elbow posterior inflammation, ending his season in mid-September.
