After days of holding their breath, there is the smallest sliver of good news for Yankee fans: ace Gerrit Cole does not need Tommy John surgery on his right elbow, per multiple reports. However, a lengthy absence is still on the horizon despite it not being a season-ending issue.
This comes after a quick trip to Los Angeles to see Dr. Neal ElAttrache, who suggested that rest and rehab along with other non-surgical treatments can aid in a full recovery that could see him get back on the mound in 10 to 12 weeks.
By those projections, Cole could be back by early June as a best-case scenario.
Meanwhile, back in Tampa, there’s still plenty of ongoing debate over who gets the season
opener for the Bronx Bombers. Manager Aaron Boone told reporters that the job was offered to Marcus Stroman, who politely declined it, and asked to stay in the third spot of the rotation as he has in years prior. If he does get the third day in Houston, that means the rotation would fall on him to start on the Yankees’ home opener.
