TAMPA — Word from the Yankees was Gerrit Cole was flying from Los Angeles to Tampa on Friday, and the club did not want to speak publicly about its ace until talking with Cole in person.
Cole is expected to be at the Yankees facility Saturday.
Yet, after the initial reading from Dr. Neal ElAttrache entailed Cole’s troubled throwing elbow needed rest and rehab and — critically — not surgery, the Yankees’ clubhouse was an appreciative, if still concerned, one.
“The main thing is if he can pitch for us this year,” Gleyber Torres said, “it’s great news for us.”
Torres was alerted of the development Thursday night and learned Cole may miss around two months. There are still plenty of unknowns regarding the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner, but no doctor yet has spotted a tear in his UCL.
“Take whatever time he needs,” Torres said. “Just try to play without Cole … and wait for him to recover.”
Clarke Schmidt, who underwent Tommy John surgery in 2017, understands the feeling of anxiety and unknown. Schmidt said he has talked with Cole and offered any advice he could.
“I think elbow stuff is a little unfamiliar territory for him, but not for us normal, mortal people here,” Schmidt said of Cole, who has logged at least 30 starts in the past six full major league seasons and has never needed elbow surgery.
Losing Cole — for however long — hurts.
“Obviously very unfortunate news, but nothing that he can’t work through,” Schmidt said. “Obviously he’s going to get the best of the best as far as recovery and stuff like that. So I’m sure he’ll be back in no time.”
Cole’s Opening Day replacement, Nestor Cortes, said he had spoken with Cole a few days ago but not since visiting with ElAttrache. Cortes was asked how Cole felt both physically and mentally.
“It’s just a minor setback for him,” Cortes said. “He’s been great. I know he’s going to have a long career, more than what he’s already had.”
Pitching his first time this spring on normal, four days’ rest, Schmidt allowed a run (a Jack Brannigan home run) on five hits while striking out five in 3 ¹/₃ innings.
“I think this is probably the best my stuff’s been so far in camp,” Schmidt said after building up to 58 pitches in the 6-2 loss to the Pirates at Steinbrenner Field.
Righty reliever Jonathan Loaisiga said Thursday he would be used through the first half of this season as a multi-inning weapon every few days, recalling the way the Yankees had used Michael King in recent seasons.
That remains true, though Aaron Boone said the bursts would be a bit shorter and would tend to arrive later in games.
“We’ll use a little bit of our King model with him,” the manager said. “But I don’t see Lo going three innings like Michael King did. I see him more in a one-plus, up to two innings. … and more consistently at the back end of the game.”
Boone on the battle for the No. 5 starter, a competition that includes Luke Weaver, Cody Poteet, Cody Morris, Clayton Beeter and Will Warren:
“The good thing is I feel like we’ve got good choices. So honestly, it’s just kind of continuing to evaluate the guys that are kind of in the running for that. A number of those guys have at least a couple more outings remaining. So … we’ll continue to try and make the best decision for everyone involved.”
Mario Garza, the director of baseball development, will manage Saturday’s Spring Breakout game that features some of the club’s top prospects.
Tommy Kahnle has added a basketball hoop above his locker as well as a bit of a court, using tape to create the paint and free-throw line.
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