Reigning AL CY Young pitcher Gerrit Cole turned into the New York Yankees’ biggest nightmare after he encountered a nerve inflammation injury in his pitching elbow. Cole turned up for spring healthy and has a history of being the most durable pitcher in the league.
However, with recent tweaks in pitch clock regulations, conversations over ill effects on pitchers’ health have begun gaining mainstream attention. Amid the injury epidemic hovering over MLB, an ESPN MLB analyst expressed skepticism on Gerrit Cole’s alleged return this season, stating how the Yankees must prepare for the worst-case scenario.
Gerrit Cole To Get Ruled Out With Elbow Injury This Season?
So far, the New York Yankees haven’t felt the void of ace Gerrit Cole since the rest of the rotation has stepped up nicely. However, the season is still 162 games long, and it’s only a matter of time before Cole’s absence starts to bother the club. Regardless, the Bronx Bombers are optimistic since Cole’s nerve inflammation doesn’t appear to be serious. He is currently placed on 60-day IL and has begun showing positive signs of improvement. Cole threw for the first time this week and had successful catching sessions as well. Therefore, given no further setbacks, the reigning AL CY Young pitcher should be able to return in the first week of June. However, ESPN analyst Buster Olney cast his doubts about Cole’s potential return given the ongoing injury epidemic around pitchers.
“We talk about whether Gerrit Cole will come back, I’m assuming he’s not,” claimed Buster Olney. The insider explained that while he has no complete knowledge of Cole’s elbow situation, given the injury outbreak, he believes the issue is more pervasive. Moreover, since it’s Cole, the most effective pitcher in the league, the New York Yankees would opt for caution. Not only that, Olney believes the Bronx Bombers must have a backup plan in case Cole is not able to return for them this season. The void is massive and needs serious reinforcement to salvage the damage. “It scares the life out of me for the game that these big pitchers are going down,” added Olney. Nevertheless, the Yankees fans have nothing to worry about as Cole has begun taking noteworthy steps into his recovery process and remains confident of a return sooner rather than later.
Cole Embraces Coaching Role Amid Injury Layoff!
Gerrit Cole hasn’t left the New York Yankees side since getting diagnosed with elbow nerve inflammation injury. He has been travelling with the team as a mentor and is apparently loving the new role. Cole said he loves to pass on the knowledge to the young guns trying to make big into the game.
And as a senior, he wants to help the team to the best of his capacity. Even New York Yankees pitchers are making the most of Cole’s coaching stint and admitted benefitting largely from it. That being said, Gerrit Cole is on his way to ensure a timely return by the first week of June.
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