The topic before, during and after the spring training game between the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees on Wednesday revolved around sore right elbows.
For Boston, the news wasn’t a total surprise with the right-hander Lucas Giolito probably done for the season after surgery. It wasn’t the Tommy John Versionhowever, which could mean a faster return.
For New York, things remain uncertain because ace Gerrit Cole continues He had to undergo tests on his elbow after having trouble recovering after the start of spring training. He flew to Los Angeles on Wednesday to see Dr. Neal ElAttrache.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone wouldn’t speculate on the extent of the injury in an interview during a 9-4 loss to the Red Sox. He also wouldn’t give a specific date after the game.
“I understand this is Gerrit Cole and it’s a big story,” Boone said. “But I’m not going to jump to conclusions or speculate. We’re still gathering information, and then everyone will have to weigh in on what exactly we have.”
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Cole, the 2023 American League Cy Young Award winner, has thrown fewer pitches in his spring training starts this year than other members of the rotation. The 33-year-old had an MRI exam Monday, followed by X-rays and a CT scan Tuesday.
“Even though it sounds crazy, you have to try not to rush into things too much, especially when you don’t know certain things,” Boone said.
The Red Sox announced before their game that Giolito underwent ulnar collateral ligament repair surgery Tuesday with an internal brace on his right elbow. The typical recovery from internal brace surgery, which uses artificial material to make the repair, has allowed pitchers to return to the major leagues in just nine months. With Tommy John surgery, where a tendon replaces a torn ligament, that can require a 12- to 18-month rehab period.
Giolito had the procedure performed by Dr. Jeffrey R. Dugas at Andrews Sports Medicine and Orthopedics Center in Birmingham, Alabama. Giolito, 29, made two starts in spring training for the Red Sox after signing a two-year, $38.5 million contract.
“I think it was the best-case scenario,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said before the game against the Yankees. “Given what’s happened with this procedure in the past, he’s going to be able to go out there and throw his changeup and his good fastball and help the Red Sox win some more games.”
Left-hander Carlos Rodón’s only hit in four innings against Boston was a home run. After retiring his first 10 batters, Rodón allowed a 421-foot run to Triston Casas. He struck out three batters in a 68-pitch outing that featured an improved fastball velocity of 97 mph.
“Today I was able to gain confidence,” Rodón said.
Rodón had given up three homers in 5 2/3 innings in his last two starts of training camp. He is expected to start the Yankees’ second regular-season game on March 29 at Houston.
Right-hander for the Los Angeles Dodgers Yoshinobu Yamamoto eliminated the team in first against Seattle before giving up four runs in 4 2/3 innings. It’s a nice way to end his spring training stint in Arizona.
The Dodgers will soon travel to Seoul, South Korea for their season opener against San Diego on March 20.
Shohei Ohtani and the Dodgers will face the Kiwoom Heroes in an exhibition game on Sunday, while South Korea will take on the Padres. San Diego will face the LG Twins in another exhibition game on Monday, and South Korea will take on the Dodgers.
Then it’s the real thing, with matches next Wednesday and Thursday. Game 1 is expected to feature Los Angeles’ Tyler Glasnow and San Diego’s Yu Darvish taking the mound. In Game 2, Yamamotowho just signed a 12-year, $325 million contract, will start. Joe Musgrove will play for the Padres.
Padres sign right-hander Dylan Cease in an exchange with the Chicago White Sox for reliever Steven Wilson and three prospects. Cease, 28, finished second in voting for the 2022 AL Cy Young Award. He was 7-9 with a 4.58 ERA last season for a White Sox team that went 61-101.
“He’s a power pitcher who can knock you out of the game,” Padres general manager AJ Preller said. “When you look at guys who can dominate a game or a season, he’s on a short list of guys who can do that.”
In a social media postLeft-hander Jose Quintana invited all New York Mets fans to come watch him pitch after getting the opening day start against Milwaukee on March 28. Quintana, 35, went 3-6 with a 3.57 ERA last season for New York.
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza announced the decision Wednesday.
In other Mets news, third baseman Brett Baty was scratched from the lineup with a mild back strain. His condition is listed as day to day.
Bo Jackson was elected to the The Kansas City Royals Hall of Fame.
The team announced Wednesday that on June 29, the most outstanding player in baseball/football will be honored in an on-field ceremony before the team plays Cleveland. Jackson shocked the sports world when he chose to play baseball over football and joined the Royals in 1986.
He played five seasons with Kansas City, making the All-Star team in 1989 and winning the game’s MVP award. In all, Jackson played in the major leagues for eight years, including stints with the Chicago White Sox and California Angels. He hit a combined .250 with 141 home runs and 415 RBIs.
Jackson played running back for the Raiders, who were then in Los Angeles, during the offseason. He played with them for four seasons, starting in 1987, before injuring his hip. He rushed for 2,782 yards and 16 TDs.
A Heisman Trophy winner at Auburn, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1998.
THE The Dodgers announced that Left-hander Justin Wilson has opted out of his contract with the team to become a free agent. Wilson, 36, has pitched 11 seasons in the major leagues. His last major league appearances came with Cincinnati in 2022, when he played in five games.
Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Oneil Cruz hit his Cruz hit his fifth home run of spring training off Toronto’s Chris Bassitt on Wednesday. Cruz has 17 home runs in 2022 as he finished sixth in National League Rookie of the Year voting.
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AP baseball writer Jay Cohen and AP freelance writer Mark Didtler contributed to this report.
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