- The Yankees, 82-80, missed the playoffs last season for the first time since 2016
- Gerrit Cole and Aaron Judge are both banged up in spring training
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Nestor Cortes expressed concern about fellow New York Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole’s injury as he is scheduled to undergo an MRI exam on Monday.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone reported discomfort in Cole’s right elbow, which quickly spread throughout the locker room. The injury will push back Cole’s second start of spring training – scheduled for Tuesday – until they hear answers about the discomfort.
With just over two weeks before the Yankees begin their MLB season, Cortes called Cole’s situation “alarming.”
“He’s the reigning Cy Young winner,” Cortes said of Cole, who won his first Cy Young Award last season. “He’s a big part of this rotation. It’s hard to hear.’
Cortes added that the proximity of his locker to Cole made him aware of the discomfort. However, he remained unaware of the severity until the MRI was scheduled.
Nestor Cortes spoke about how ‘alarming’ teammate Gerrit Cole’s possible elbow injury is
Manager Aaron Boone announced that Cole will have an MRI on his right elbow on Monday
“I know he’s been dealing with some things, like any pitcher in spring training,” Cortes said at GMS. “I didn’t know how serious it was until now.”
Cortes followed that up by admitting that he learned about the possible injury through a news update on his phone and then seen on the TV in the team’s clubhouse at Steinbrenner Field.
“Hopefully it’s nothing too bad,” he added. “Maybe a little alarming, then he’ll get over the hump and he’ll be ready to go.”
Cole getting injured is another blow for the Yankees, with star player Aaron Judge experiencing a “mid-spring beat up,” according to Boone.
After leaving Sunday’s game against the Atlanta Braves early, Boone told reporters that Judge was not expected to prepare for the game. He later added that Judge will not participate in batting practice or a split-squad game on Monday.
Cortes (L) emphasized the importance of Cole (R) to the team with 17 days left in the MLB season
Additionally, Yankees star Aaron Judge left Sunday’s game early due to a “beat up mid-spring”
Despite Cole’s individual success, the Yankees finished last season with an 82–80 record and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2016.
“He’s so aware of his body,” Cortes said. ‘He knows what he is doing all year round. Even talking to him in recent offseasons, if my workload has gotten too much or is more than what I’m used to, I’ll talk to him about what the offseason is like and what I’m supposed to be like and how I’m going to be in the season can come. spring training.
‘He has a good idea of how his body feels and this is something he tries to anticipate. Obviously it’s alarming for everyone. Hopefully it’s nothing.’