New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone is about to receive some delicate news a month before the midseason. According to Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News, it has been mentioned that right-handed reliever Jake Cousins will likely need Tommy John surgery, although that decision is not yet finalized. In the course of the next few hours he will undergo MRIs, but it is likely that the pitcher will miss the rest of the season and even part of 2026.
Boone told reporters earlier in the week that Cousins’ rehabilitation was suspended due to an ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) injury and that the 30-year-old was in the process of receiving opinions on the injury before next steps were decided. At the moment, the Bronx Bombers are leading the American League East.
Jake Cousins’ injury will mark his career to stay active or to think about retirement
The news of the Tommy John surgery is a blow for Jake Cousins, who has not pitched in a Major League game this season. He first suffered a forearm strain that kept him out of the Grapefruit League during spring training, before being placed on the 60-day injured list prior to Opening Day due to a right elbow flexor strain.
Cousins’ recovery path was slightly delayed by a pectoral soreness in mid-May, although he went on to complete the necessary bullpen sessions and live batting practice before embarking on his rehab assignment, during which he posted a 7.71 ERA in 2 1/3 innings with High-A Hudson Valley.
The Yankees’ gamble that backfired
The management of the New York Yankees acquired Jake Cousins from the Chicago White Sox in March 2024, who in his season posted a 2.37 ERA in 38 innings of regular season play, before posting a 9.00 ERA in six playoff appearances. However, after the conclusion of the campaign he fell into the shadows of injury and the White Sox offered him in exchange for cash considerations, which was not publicly disclosed.
This weekend, the Manhattan Mules face the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. The following week they will be at home when they host the Anaheim Angels and host the Baltimore Orioles. Between trips, the New York manager will have to analyze how to reinforce his bullpen before the All-Star Game, which will take place in a month (July 15).
Read the full article here
