BREAKING: Gerrit Cole Drops Major Injury Update — Plus a Stanton Surprise & Weaver Hope

Yankees fans have practically gone numb to injury updates — they’ve been weathering them nonstop since 2018. At this point, it’s no longer a unique issue for New York; injuries are everywhere across the league. It’s just the reality of the game now.

But you know what does feel different? Good injury news. And Yankees fans finally got a dose of that — three doses, actually.

Gerrit Cole: Positive Progress & Surprise Booth Appearance

Let’s start with ace Gerrit Cole. On Wednesday night, he spoke with Jack Curry and revealed he’ll be joining the YES Network broadcast booth this season. That’s huge. Cole isn’t just an elite pitcher — he’s one of the sharpest minds in baseball. Pairing him with Michael Kay and Paul O’Neill should give fans a front-row seat to some insightful, high-level commentary.

Even better? Cole said his recovery from Tommy John surgery is going well. While we won’t see him back on the mound until 2026, this update is a breath of fresh air for Yankees fans who’ve missed his presence.

Giancarlo Stanton: Return Imminent + Boone’s Catcher Twist

Next, there’s Giancarlo Stanton, who may be back as early as this weekend for the much-anticipated series against the Red Sox at Fenway. Given Stanton’s track record as a Red Sox killer, his return couldn’t come at a better time.

But manager Aaron Boone added an interesting wrinkle: to keep Stanton locked into the DH spot, rookie Ben Rice may start getting reps behind the plate. He already caught the final two innings of Tuesday’s 10–2 win over the Royals, so the transition is already underway. That adjustment could shake up the roster — depending on what happens with JC Escarra, Pablo Reyes, and even Jazz Chisholm if his minor injuries linger.

Luke Weaver: Encouraging Recovery

And finally, there’s Luke Weaver, who’s working his way back from a hamstring strain. He just completed his second bullpen session with no reported issues and said his hamstring felt “great.” While there’s no official word yet on a return date, this is promising progress for an injury that’s notoriously tricky. Originally projected to miss 4–6 weeks, Weaver might beat the longer end of that timeline — great news for a bullpen that could use the reinforcements.