Shortly after the Yankees announced their fears had come to fruition, Gerrit Cole issued a statement with his sights set on the future.
The ace is set to undergo Tommy John surgery on Tuesday, a procedure he called “the necessary next step for my career” in an Instagram post on Monday night. This is the second straight season the 34-year-old has dealt with elbow issues after succumbing to inflammation last spring, but Cole plans on coming back “stronger than ever.”
“I have a lot left to give, and I’m fully committed to the work ahead,” Cole wrote from Los Angeles, where he consulted with Dr. Neal ElAttrache before committing to surgery. “I’ll attack my rehab every day and support the 2025 Yankees each step of the way. I love this game, I love competing, and I can’t wait to be back on the mound — stronger than ever.”
Cole’s promise to support the Yankees in 2025 makes it sound like he’ll remain a frequent presence and tutor. Cole is a leader in their clubhouse, and he’s always been one to share his expansive knowledge of his craft.
When elbow inflammation sidelined him until June last season, he earned the reputation of an unofficial pitching coach from his peers.
Cole added “see you soon” at the end of his post, but he will miss the entire 2025 season and then some. That means his lasting memory on a baseball field — during a game that matters, anyway — will be Game 5 of the 2024 World Series.
Cole didn’t allow any earned runs over 6.2 innings and 108 pitches that night, but his failure to cover first base on a soft Mookie Betts grounder contributed to a sloppy fifth inning for the Yankees and a series-ending win for the Dodgers.
Now Cole wants more than just a return to the mound. He wants back in the Fall Classic once his long rehab is over.
“From the time I first dreamed of wearing the Yankees uniform, my goal has always been to help bring a World Series championship to New York,” he wrote. “That dream hasn’t changed — I still believe in it, and I’m more determined than ever to achieve it.”
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