New York Yankees ace and defending CY Young pitcher Gerrit Cole didn’t have an ideal start to the 2024 MLB season as he suffered from elbow inflammation injury that sidelined him for over 2 months. After intense build up and rehab program, Cole was activated in mid-June on a pitch count restriction.
While Gerrit Cole was ordinary on season debut, he imploded in the next few starts, including a six-run outing against the New York Mets. Meanwhile, in a concerning turn of events, Cole’s scheduled start against the Phillies on Tuesday was cancelled at the last moment by the Yankees under mysterious circumstances.
Gerrit Cole Pulls Out Of Start Vs Phillies After Fatigue Complain
The New York Yankees roared with a 14-4 victory over strong opponents Philadelphia Phillies in the series opener on Monday. However, to stake a claim on the three-game series, the Yanks stepped out with a last-minute change in the lineup. Ace and defending CY Young pitcher Gerrit Cole was scratched off his scheduled start, with prospect Will Warren replacing him to mark his major league debut. Warren allowed four runs in 5.1 innings in the Yanks thriller 7-6 victory in extra innings. However, Cole’s sudden absence left the fans puzzled. Meanwhile, the starting pitcher clarified that his canceled start wasn’t related to any underlying injury concern, possibly on the pitching elbow.
Apparently, Gerrit Cole felt body fatigue coming into Tuesday, and upon consultation with manager Aaron Boone, general manager Brian Cashman, and the franchise’s medical staff, the Yankees decided to overrule Cole’s desire to continue with his start. “It’s nothing really specific. I’m a bit run down,” Gerrit Cole said while explaining that he didn’t recover well from his last start against the Mets. The pitcher also added that since he had a delayed start to the year, he’s feeling different compared to most of the league’s starters. Regardless, the ace will rest for a couple of days as no tests have been scheduled. Skipper Boone believes it’s part of the process and prays the issue is just fatigue and nothing more serious. It’s important to note that if all things go well, Gerrit Cole can return to action later in the week, possibly against the Blue Jays.
Yankees Sign Outfielder Turned Pitcher In Minor League Contract
The New York Yankees bolstered its minor league depth at the mid-season trade deadline with an interesting upgrade that sent the fans in frenzy. Brett Phillips, a former MLB outfielder, has been signed by the Yankees in a minor league contract as a relief pitcher. Phillips has been asked to report to the team’s Single-A Tampa affiliate.
Notably, Brett Phillips, 30, spend seven years in MLB as an outfielder for Brewers, Royals, Rays, Orioles and Angels. He owns .187/.272/.347 slash line with 31 home runs in 971 career plate appearances. However, with his career on a decline as outfielder, Phillips transformed into a flamethrower. He surfaced back in the news with a 97 mph fast ball in a semi-pro game before the Yanks made a move for him.
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