Gerrit Cole’s season has taken a brutal turn, but this isn’t the final chapter. Injuries have ravaged the Yankees, and now their ace is down. Right elbow inflammation and edema mean only one thing—Tommy John surgery. But as Cole prepares for the long road to recovery, he’s got a strong support system. His wife and other well-known figures are standing by him, proving that even in baseball’s darkest moments, no player fights alone.

But problems don’t just seem to end in the Bronx, do they? Especially after the Yankees lost Giancarlo Stanton and Luis Gil due to injuries, and now it’s their elite pitcher, Gerrit Cole. Although the 2023 Cy Young Winner Cole managed to be a part of the spring training, the constant pain and discomfort in his elbow pushed him to opt for the surgery. Amid such a negative impact on the Yankees’ roster, Aaron Judge has shared interest in Sandy Alcantara, a young prospect, as a replacement. Guess that works.

Maybe! Yankees’ manager Brian Cashman was “prepared for the worst” to happen, and the Yankees accepted the worst just as expected. Cole has been a major contributor to the Yankees, who signed a nine-year, $324 million contract with his favorite team in 2019, having a 3.12 ERA in 125 starts at the regular-season games, being named All-Star from 2021 to 2023, and even winning the AL Cy Young Award multiple times.

However, his 2024 season was marred by injury, and now, surgery seemed to be the only option left. Cole has sent an emotional message in the form of a post on his Instagram handle: “From the time I first dreamed of wearing the Yankees uniform, my goal has always been to help bring a World Series championship to New York. That dream hasn’t changed—I still believe in it, and I’m more determined than ever to achieve it.”

And that’s a good move, given that it will instill motivation in him while the surgery will determine his longevity and performance in the long run, right?

MLB nation comes in support of Gerrit Cole amid his surgery update

Cole’s surgery will happen on Tuesday, conducted by specialist doctor Neal ElAttrache in Los Angeles. Considering the emotional post shared by Cole to express his feelings, his wife is the first person to back his decision. Amy Cole replied on the post, “GC 2.0 about to be crazy,” which indicates that post-recovery, which usually takes somewhere around 12 to 18 months, we all will see a new Gerrit Cole, who will do wonders as a starting pitcher for the Yankees.

Echoing a similar thought, former Yankees pitcher Jameson Taillon stated, “GC 2.0 is going to be a movie! Can’t wait to watch you dominate this rehab just like you do every other aspect of life!!” Taillon shared a good bond when he was with the Yankees and has wished for his friend’s recovery, as he is keen to see him back on the mound. Marwin Javier González, the Yankees’ second baseman, has lent support to his teammate, citing, “Comeback stronger, mi hermano,” as he wishes him to come back soon and bolster the pitching rotation. But that’s not all.

Well-known pitcher Justin Verlander’s brother, Ben Verlander, who is also a renowned sports analyst, shared, “Comeback Szn, about to be 🔥.” Being one of the record holders for strikeouts in a single season for the Houston Astros and Yankees with 326 and 257 in 2019 and 2022, respectively, everyone’s hopeful that he will make a comeback even better than before. 

Another young player, Roman Kimball, who made 15 appearances along with eight starts in 2024, called Gerrit Cole an “Ace,” being a pitcher himself. Cole, as a pitcher for the New York Yankees, has been a revolution; he led the AL in earned-run average and even ended seasons with MLB-high strikeout numbers, with 326 being his highest in 2019. That’s massive, isn’t it?

Definitely! And we all hope that Gerrit Cole makes a quick recovery and comes back to the mound. What’s your take on it?