Gerrit Cole almost didn’t throw a single pitch for the New York Yankees last season.
When news broke that the 2023 AL Cy Young Award winner would have an MRI on his pitching elbow, fans and analysts rightfully feared the worst possible outcome; a UCL tear that would require season-ending surgery. The Yankees were able to dodge a bullet as Cole only missed the first two months of the season, and he pitched to a solid 3.41 ERA in his 17 starts last season.
That came with a terrible start due to spotty command as Gerrit Cole was getting his legs under him again, and with a healthy 2025 season, he could remind everyone that he’s still an elite pitcher.