Doctors Reveal Devastating News for Yankees' Gerrit Cole

The New York Yankees and their fans were fearing the worst for ace starter Gerrit Cole after preliminary tests on his ailing elbow last week. Now doctors have delivered the devastating news, and Cole will undergo Tommy John surgery on Tuesday, which will keep him out for the entire 2025 season and likely well into the 2026 season.

According to source, Gerrit Cole has been recommended to have TJ surgery... but they are now waiting for a 2nd opinion to confirm the diagnosis #Yankees
— Jim Bowden⚾️ (@JimBowdenGM) March 10, 2025

The 34-year-old got the news originally from doctors last night, but was waiting on a second opinion. It's now been confirmed.

Last season, Cole was also shut down during spring training with elbow inflammation. He chose rehab rather than surgery, and wound up making 19 starts, going 8-5 with a 3.41 ERA.

But this time, no such luck.

Cole will be closing in on 36 by the time he's ready to return.

Cole joins 2024 Rookie of the Year Award winner Luis Gil on the shelf, as the youngster will miss at least three months with a high-grade lat strain. That leaves the Yankees rotation two major arms short.

Marcus Stroman, who came into camp as the 6th starter, but insisting he would never pitch out of the bullpen, is now fixed in the rotation. He'll join the team's big offseason free agent addition, Max Fried, and Carlos Rodon (last year's big splashy pitching signing) as well as Clarke Schmidt.

The Yankees No. 1 pitching prospect, Will Warren, is the likely beneficiary of the troubling news on Cole. He's had an excellent spring, striking out 11 batters in eight innings, and is the frontrunner to grab the 5th rotation spot.