Yankees, Gerrit Cole, Ben Rice
Credit: Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media

The New York Yankees suffered a blow during this year’s spring training when Gerrit Cole sustained a severe right elbow injury. Later, they had to put the ace pitcher on the 60-day Injured List. The 2023 AL Cy Young winner missed more than the first two months of the ongoing season. Later, when the ace returned in mid-June, it was notable that the reigning AL Cy Young winner was not at his finest. He needed more time to get back in his groove. Moreover, the NY side is really depending on Cole as they want to go deep into the playoffs this year. The Yankees will need the reigning AL Cy Young winner to come back stronger and fitter if they want to make a deep playoff run this year.

Other starting pitchers had a decent first two months in the current season. But since June 13, the starters seemed to have gotten into a slump, and that caused a sudden slump for the whole team. After going 6-16 in the remaining games in June, they had an even worse start in July, going 4-8. Lately, the Bronx Bombers have turned things around a bit. Moreover, Gerrit Cole seems to have made progress in the recent bullpen session.

   

Gerrit Cole Felt Better After Throwing A Bullpen Session On Friday

Yankees, Gerrit Cole
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Mark W Sanchez, a columnist of the New York Post recently wrote, “The Gerrit Cole scare seems to be over.” On Tuesday, Aaron Boone had scratched the reigning AL Cy Young winner from starting because of ‘Body fatigue.’ Later, on Friday, Cole had a bullpen session where he threw and felt “Better.” If things go fine, he can rejoin the team on Sunday. The Yankees gave their ace hurler a few extra days to recover. On ten days’ rest, Cole will pitch, possibly on Sunday. As per Sanchez, Cole said he feels fine at present. Naturally, the team seemed concerned over the body fatigue of their ace pitcher because he came off a 60-day recovery process after suffering nerve inflammation and edema in his pitching right elbow.

Later, Boone had to shut down the 33-year-old pitcher because he was not performing well or improving in his last few outings. The injury in spring training messed up the season for the reigning AL Cy Young winner. Gerrit Cole had seven up and down starts this season so far. But prior to the series opener against the Toronto Blue Jays where the Yankees lost 8-5 at home, Gerrit mentioned, “I’m hoping this delay will be a breather that I really needed and will be a one-off.”

Yankees Manager On The 8-5 Loss To The Blue Jays

Yankees, Aaron Boone
(John Raoux/AP)

Aaron Boone said in the post-game interview that it seems like Juan Soto is “OK,” as he hobbled a bit in the third inning. The Dominican slugger went 1 for 4 with a double and a walk. Boone feels “Soto was able to shake it off after fouling a ball off his foot in the third inning.” Moreover, the Yankees skipper praised Ben Rice for doing a great job for the team.

He also spoke highly of the other players who have really earned their opportunities. Then, Boone admitted that he deliberated on sitting DJ LeMahieu but feels Wednesday’s game showed signs that the slugger is still capable of rolling like he used to. The manager added that there will be other spots for DJ as well.

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