New York Yankees ace **Gerrit Cole** provided an update Saturday regarding the right elbow discomfort he experienced after a rocky spring training outing against the Minnesota Twins on Thursday. Cole, who allowed six earned runs in just 2.2 innings, expressed cautious optimism while awaiting results from diagnostic imaging.
*“I’ve still got some hope,”* Cole told Yankees beat writer Bryan Hoch. *“I’m just waiting for the experts to weigh in.”*
Despite his struggles on the mound, Cole’s velocity remained intact, with his fastball reaching 97.6 mph—a sign that initially eased concerns about his elbow. However, the timing of the injury scare couldn’t be worse for the Yankees, who are already dealing with injuries to designated hitter **Giancarlo Stanton** and reigning AL Rookie of the Year **Luis Gil**.
This marks the second consecutive spring that Cole’s elbow has been a focal point of concern. In 2024, he missed the first two months of the season before returning in June and playing a pivotal role in the Yankees’ World Series run.
If Cole is sidelined for an extended period, the Yankees will lean heavily on newly signed veteran left-hander **Max Fried**, as well as starters **Carlos Rodón** and **Marcus Stroman**, to anchor the rotation and keep their championship aspirations alive. Manager **Aaron Boone** faces mounting pressure to navigate these early setbacks as the team prepares for Opening Day.
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