Gerrit Cole reveals he was injured on the Yankees and is confident he will play this season

MLB

by Greg Joyce

TAMPA — While the collective fan base was holding its breath, Gerrit Cole felt “pretty good” as he left his meeting with Dr. Neil El Attrache in Los Angeles earlier this week.

The Yankees outfielder was diagnosed with neuritis and edema in his elbow, which will keep him from pitching for three to four weeks before he tries to build back up, but considering potential alternatives, he seemed optimistic with his prognosis.

“I think we decided we got a little too hot in the spring,” Cole said Saturday at Steinbrenner Field in his first comments since undergoing a battery of tests on his elbow. “We progressed through the normal recovery cycle, but at a certain point, we didn't get back to our baseline, which was kind of our goal. And at that moment, it's time to see what's going on.”

If Cole is able to start his throwing program without any issues in three to four weeks, he will likely still need to take full spring training, which is six weeks, leaving the door open to return by late May at best. Scenario.

Cole indicated that he is “absolutely” confident that he will return to the field this season.

The 33-year-old, an AL Cy Young Award winner, said he will not receive any PRP injections in his elbow, instead opting to “just rest and recover” for the next three to four weeks.

“We'll keep the arm alive though,” Cole said, referring to plyometrics and arm movements. “It's not like we're not doing anything. That was the term the doctors described – it will keep your arm alive for the next three or four weeks and then it will start working.

This will be the first time Cole has been on the injured list for any type of arm injury.

He said he felt great during the vacation and had never experienced anything like this before.

“I mean it's not a common experience for me,” he said. “I've never really dealt with anything like this before. Anytime you go through something for the first time, there's a little bit of uncertainty. But I had a lot of faith.”