TAMPA, Fla. -- New York Yankees ace Gerrit Cole had imaging on his right elbow and expects to know more about the situation in the next couple of days.
Cole, 34, was tagged for six runs and five hits in 2â…” innings during a spring training start against the Minnesota Twins on Thursday. He told reporters that he felt good during the outing but got more and more sore after it was over.
"Something wasn't right," he said Saturday.
Cole told reporters, including one for MLB.com, that the imaging had been distributed, and he is waiting for second opinions.
"I've still got some hope," he said.
Cole missed the start of last season because of nerve irritation and edema in his right elbow. The six-time All-Star went 8-5 with a 3.41 ERA in 17 starts then was 1-0 with a 2.17 ERA in five postseason starts.
The right-hander signed a nine-year, $324 million contract before the 2020 season. He won the 2023 American League Cy Young Award after going 15-4 with an AL-best 2.63 ERA in 33 starts.
The Yankees have been hit hard by injuries during spring training. Right-hander Luis Gil, the 2024 AL Rookie of the Year, is going to miss the start of the season because of a lat strain. Giancarlo Stanton also will begin the season on the injured list because of pain in both of his elbows. Infielder DJ LeMahieu has a left calf strain.
Stanton is going to have a third round of platelet-rich plasma injections. Speaking to reporters in Florida, the slugger described his elbow injuries as severe, but better than it was at the beginning of spring training.
