Revealed: Gerrit Cole Shut Down + Next Steps

The New York Yankees are on pins and needles these days with the status of rotation ace and reigning Cy Young winner Gerrit Cole. The imaging on his elbow has been done, and he's been shut down and will start the season on the injured list.

But per manager Aaron Boone, there's still a lot more to learn.

Aaron Boone on Gerrit Cole: "He had the MRI, CT scans and X-rays yesterday. Now he's flying to LA to see ElAttrache and more tests I believe tomorrow. We're still in the gathering of information (stage) and then everyone's got to weigh in to determine what exactly we have."

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"He had the MRI, CT scans and X-rays yesterday," said Boone. "Now he's flying to LA to see ElAttrache and more tests I believe tomorrow. We're still in the gathering of information (stage) and then everyone's got to weigh in to determine what exactly we have." 

Anytime a pitcher is scheduled to visit Dr. Neal ElAttrache in Los Angeles, immediate red flags go up. He is the doctor most known these days for performing Tommy John surgery. And if the doc determines that that's the next step for Cole, his season would be done. 

For now, the early reports had Cole being out "one to two months', but Jeff Passan warns that "I would be very careful to read too much into other reported timelines on how long he could be out. Until a full diagnosis and plan, it’s speculation."

Cole has been a horse for the past seven years, never starting less than 30 games in a full season. The last time his elbow gave him any trouble was back in 2016, with inflammation. 

The 33-year-old reported "discomfort" in his elbow after his first spring start, and Boone told reporters the right-hander didn't "bounce back as expected" between outings.

So for now, more tests, and although this all isn't the worst news just yet, he has to see Dr. ElAttrache first before we know more. 

Photo: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports