Gerrit Cole Takes Shot At Yankees' Inability To Stay Healthy: "We Get Injured Too Much"


With the 2024 season looming, the New York Yankees are haboring a sense of determination, eager to bounce back from a lackluster 2023 season.

Despite standout performances like Aaron Judge's impressive 37-home run campaign and Gerrit Cole securing his first Cy Young award, the team found themselves mired in disappointment, finishing with an 82-80 record and missing the playoffs for the first time since 2016.

Addressing the media during spring training in Tampa, Cole didn't mince words when reflecting on the challenges of the previous year.

With a blunt assessment, he labeled 2023 as a "disaster," pointing directly at the team's persistent struggles with injuries.

While acknowledging that some injuries were beyond their control, Cole emphasized the need for the Yankees to address their collective health issues, highlighting that the team had been plagued by an unusually high number of injuries throughout the season.

From key rotational figures like Carlos Rodon and Nestor Cortes to star players Aaron Judge and Anthony Rizzo, the Yankees seemed perennially plagued by absences that disrupted their rhythm and cohesion on the field.

Cole acknowledged the necessity for improvement in injury prevention, emphasizing the importance of rigorous offseason conditioning to bolster the team's resilience.

"Certainly there were injuries that are outside of the normal realm of injuries that impacted us," Cole said Thursday. "With that said, we get injured too much as a group. We need to improve."

Despite the challenges posed by the competitive AL East, Cole remained resolute in his commitment to maximizing his availability for games and leading by example in the pursuit of team success.

As the Yankees set their sights on the 2024 season with aspirations of World Series contention, Cole's unwavering dedication to staying healthy serves as a rallying cry for the team's quest for redemption. Photo Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports