The New York Yankees have officially changed their facial hair policy
Sports Seriously’s Mackenzie Salmon breaks down the change in facial hair policy from the Yankees and the impact it may have on Major League Baseball.
Sports Seriously
New York Yankees ace Gerrit Cole will undergo Tommy John surgery on his ailing right elbow, the team announced Monday, ending his 2025 season before it began and dealing a severe blow to the team’s World Series hopes.
Cole will undergo surgery Tuesday in Los Angeles by orthopedist Neal ElAttrache, the team said. It is the first major surgery of Cole’s 13-year career.
Cole, the 2023 AL Cy Young award winner, began experiencing arm soreness during his second spring training start against the Minnesota Twins on Thursday, in which he allowed six runs in 2⅔ innings. Although his fastball velocity still neared 98 mph, Cole’s command was erratic.
He told reporters the next day that his arm “continued to get more and more sore” during his 54-pitch outing and the pain he felt afterwards was “alarming.”
Cole, 34, had similar issues last spring, when he was diagnosed with elbow inflammation and was shut down from throwing for several weeks. He didn’t make his 2024 season debut until mid-June. He was able to recover and make 17 regular season starts, going 8-5 with a 3.41 ERA.
Cole said Monday in a social media post that he has “a lot left to give, and I’m fully committed to the work ahead. 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.”
In the Yankees’ run to the World Series, Cole pitched to a 2.17 ERA in five postseason starts – though he did give up five unearned runs in the World Series-clinching Game 5 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Cole’s injury is yet another injury setback for the Yankees this spring. AL rookie of the year Luis Gil will likely be out for three months after recently being diagnosed with a shoulder strain. In addition, slugger Giancarlo Stanton, the MVP of last year’s American League championship series, is dealing with tendinitis in both elbows and is unsure when he’ll be able to resume baseball activities.
Cole is in the sixth season of a nine-year, $324 million contract. After the 2024 season, he exercised an opt-out clause that the Yankees could have voided by adding a 10th season at $36 million. But Cole and the club came to an agreement he’ll play out the final four years of the contract. He’ll be eligible for free agency after the 2028 season.
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