New York Yankees ace Gerrit Cole is set to undergo Tommy John surgery on his right elbow on Tuesday and will miss the 2025 season.
Cole, 34, was in Los Angeles on Monday to meet with Dr. Neal ElAttrache, who will perform the surgery.
The typical recovery for Tommy John surgery is 12-18 months. In a statement on Monday, the Yankees said further updates on Cole’s status will be released following the procedure.
Cole, a six-time All-Star, has four years and $144 million left on his nine-year, $324 million contract.
He reported discomfort following his most recent spring outing on Thursday, in which he permitted six runs over 2 2/3 innings against the Twins.
Last March, Cole was diagnosed with right elbow inflammation and edema in his pitching elbow, an injury that delayed his season debut until June. He went 8-5 in 17 starts with 3.41 ERA, 1.126 WHIP and 99 strikeouts over 95 innings. He made five postseason starts, going 1-0 with 2.17 ERA over 29 innings.
The Yankees’ rotation will now enter the season without Cole or reigning AL Rookie of the Year Luis Gil, who is expected to miss at least three months with a lat strain.
Max Fried, who signed an eight-year, $218 million deal in the offseason, is expected to get the Opening Day start, joined in the rotation by Carlos Rodon, Clarke Schmidt and Marcus Stroman. Rookie Will Warren, Carlos Carrasco and Allan Winans are among the candidates for the fifth spot in the rotation.
In five seasons with the Yankees, Cole finished fourth (2020), second (2021) and ninth (2022) in American League Cy Young Award voting before taking home the coveted honor in 2023, when he finished 15-4 with 222 strikeouts and an AL-best 2.63 ERA in 209 innings.
Over 12 seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates (2013-17), Houston Astros (2018-19) and Yankees, the six-time All-Star is 153-80 over 317 starts (1,954 innings) with 2,251 strikeouts and 500 walks. In 22 career playoff starts, he is 11-6 with a 2.77 ERA.
