Breaking News: Yankees Ace Gerrit Cole To Undergo Tommy John Surgery, Out For 2025 Season
NEW YORK—In a devastating blow to the New York Yankees and their World Series aspirations, ace pitcher Gerrit Cole will undergo Tommy John surgery tomorrow to repair a torn right ulnar collateral ligament (UCL), the team announced on Monday, March 10, 2025.
The procedure, which replaces the damaged ligament with a tendon from another part of the body or a donor, will sideline the 34-year-old right-hander for the entirety of the 2025 Major League Baseball season and potentially longer.
Yankees Gerrit Cole To Miss Entire 2025 Season (Tommy John Surgery)
The news, reported by ESPN and confirmed by Yankees manager Aaron Boone, comes as a shock to fans and analysts alike, given Cole’s status as one of the game’s premier pitchers. Cole, the 2023 American League Cy Young Award winner, has been a cornerstone of the Yankees’ rotation since signing a nine-year, $324 million contract in 2019.
His absence leaves a gaping hole in a pitching staff that was expected to lead the team back to the postseason after reaching the American League Championship Series in 2024.
Cole’s elbow troubles first surfaced during the 2024 season, when he missed time due to inflammation in his right elbow. Despite returning to pitch effectively in the latter part of the year, the lingering injury worsened, culminating in the diagnosis of a UCL tear.
After consulting with medical experts and the Yankees’ training staff, surgery became the only viable option to ensure long-term health, though it comes at a steep short-term cost.
Tommy John Surgery Recovery
Tommy John surgery, named after the former Dodgers pitcher who underwent the procedure in 1974, has become a common operation for pitchers but requires an extensive recovery period of 12 to 18 months.
Even with successful outcomes—such as Jose Altuve, who returned stronger after the surgery in 2019—there is no guarantee Cole will regain his pre-injury form immediately upon his return, which could extend into the 2026 season.
The Yankees, who opened their 2025 spring training with high hopes, now face a significant challenge. Cole’s 2.63 ERA and 15-4 record from the 2023 season underscored his dominance, and his leadership in the clubhouse has been invaluable for younger pitchers like Luis Gil and Clarke Schmidt.
Yankees Starting Pitching 2025
With Cole out, the team will lean on Max Fried, Carlos Rodon, and Schmidt to anchor the rotation, while general manager Brian Cashman explores potential free-agent options, such as Patrick Corbin or Lance Lynn, to bolster the staff.
The timing of the injury is particularly brutal, as MLB released the 2025 regular season schedule earlier this month, featuring tough early matchups for the Yankees, including a rivalry series against the Boston Red Sox. Yankees fans, already reeling from the loss of prospect Jasson Dominguez to injury earlier in spring training, now brace for a season without their ace.
While the Yankees remain committed to supporting Cole’s recovery, the immediate focus shifts to adapting their strategy for 2025. As the baseball world reacts to this seismic shift in the Bronx, all eyes will be on whether the Yankees can overcome this setback and remain contenders in a highly competitive American League.
Player News
Keider Montero will make a spot start on Wednesday against the Brewers.
Everyone else is healthy in Detroit’s rotation. Montero will come up to take the ball for Wednesday’s series finale in Milwaukee to build in an extra rest for the other starters. It’ll be Jack Flaherty taking the ball on Thursday against the Royals on an extra day of rest.
Jose Siri (tibia) is not in the lineup for Tuesday’s game against the Rangers.
It’s worth noting that the Mets haven’t made an official roster move yet to replace Siri, who is facing a lengthy absence after being diagnosed with a fractured tibia.
Jack Leiter (blister) will face hitters later this week in a live batting practice session.
Leiter will make a minor league rehab start or jump back into Texas’ starting rotation mix following his next throwing session. The 24-year-old hasn’t experienced any blister-related issues during his injured list stint, which is a positive development. It sounds like there’s a decent chance he’s back later next week.
Brendan Rodgers (hip) remains out of the lineup for Tuesday’s showdown against the Cardinals.
Rodgers is absent from Houston’s lineup card for the fifth straight game due to an ongoing left hip issue. There’s been no indication that he’s headed to the injured list, but it can’t be ruled out. It’ll be Mauricio Dubón at the keystone on Tuesday evening for the fourth time in the last five contests.
Drake Baldwin is at catcher and batting sixth on Tuesday against the Blue Jays.
It’s his first start behind the plate since last Friday. Baldwin’s playing time has been dramatically reduced with starting backstop Sean Murphy, who has been red-hot since returning, back handling the catching duties. The 24-year-old top prospect might not get enough at-bats to make a significant impact from a fantasy standpoint, but the fact that he’s staying in the majors is a reflection of his immense talent. If he gets a full-time opportunity, he’ll be one of the more productive catchers in fantasy, but he doesn’t need to be rostered outside of two-catcher formats right now.
The Seattle Times’ Adam Jude reports Emerson Hancock is likely to start this weekend against the Blue Jays.
It’s not quite official yet, but multiple Seattle beat reporters are confirming that Hancock is likely to take the ball this weekend versus Toronto. The 25-year-old was obliterated for six runs and recorded only two outs back on March 31 in his season debut, which earned him a lightning-quick demotion to Triple-A Tacoma. He’s not a recommended streaming option for fantasy purposes.