Baseball Injury Report: Gerrit Cole Nears Return as Aaron Judge and Elly De La Cruz Face Setbacks

The grueling 162-game Major League Baseball schedule and the 144-game Korea Baseball Organization slate test organizational depth like no other sport. As the calendar flips to June, front offices face a critical juncture where early-season injuries finally begin to resolve, just as the compounding physical toll of the summer introduces new ailments to test playoff contenders.

The most uplifting development of the week comes from the New York Yankees organization. Reigning American League Cy Young winner Gerrit Cole has officially begun a minor league rehab assignment, marking a massive milestone in his recovery from March 2025 Tommy John surgery.[1]

Assigned to Double-A Somerset, the 35-year-old right-hander was scheduled to throw up to 40 pitches against the Reading Fightin Phils. For a Yankees rotation that has navigated the first two months without its ace, Cole’s impending return to the major league mound—his first appearance since Game 5 of the 2024 World Series—provides a monumental mid-season boost.[1]

However, the Yankees' celebration was immediately tempered by devastating news on the offensive side. Captain Aaron Judge was placed on the 10-day injured list with a right rib stress fracture, an injury that fundamentally alters the American League power dynamic.[2]

The three-time AL MVP will be shut down from baseball activities for four to six weeks before undergoing additional imaging and re-evaluation. To fill the void, New York recalled highly touted outfield prospect Spencer Jones from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, tasking the youngster with replacing Judge's irreplaceable production in right field.[2]

Across the National League, the St. Louis Cardinals welcomed back a familiar face. Outfielder Lars Nootbaar was activated from the 60-day injured list on Friday, making his 2026 season debut after undergoing double heel surgery during the offseason.[3]

Nootbaar proved his readiness during a 20-day rehab stint with Triple-A Memphis, where he slashed .257/.409/.543 with three home runs across 12 games. His return injects much-needed on-base skills into the Cardinals' lineup as they navigate a competitive NL Central. Meanwhile, the Detroit Tigers activated second baseman Gleyber Torres from the injured list following an oblique strain, immediately slotting the veteran back into the leadoff spot.[3][8]

Not all rehab assignments have proceeded smoothly. New York Mets infielder Jorge Polanco had his minor league progression halted over the weekend due to lingering ankle soreness. Sidelined since mid-April with left Achilles bursitis, Polanco was pulled from a Triple-A Syracuse game and sent back to New York for further evaluation, delaying his expected activation.[9]

The injury bug also bit one of baseball's most electrifying young stars. Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz landed on the injured list for the first time in his four-year career after suffering a hamstring strain while running the bases.[4]

Diagnosed with a Grade 1-to-2 strain, De La Cruz is expected to miss two to four weeks. The injury halts a spectacular start to his 2026 campaign; De La Cruz was hitting .280 with 12 home runs and leading all National League shortstops with 2.7 WAR through 58 games. The Reds recalled Edwin Arroyo to man the position in his absence.[4]

International imports are also navigating the physical toll of the MLB schedule. Chicago White Sox rookie slugger Munetaka Murakami, who took the league by storm with an astonishing 20 home runs in May, was placed on the injured list with a right hamstring strain. Murakami suffered the injury while running out a ground ball, temporarily pausing his pursuit of the MLB home run crown.[5]

On the pitching side, Mets right-hander Kodai Senga continues to battle command and velocity fluctuations in his rehab from lumbar spine inflammation. During a recent minor league outing, Senga's fastball velocity dipped to 94.3 mph, and he struggled to find the strike zone, leaving his exact return timetable uncertain.[5]

The injury landscape extends well beyond North America, heavily impacting the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO). The Kiwoom Heroes breathed a sigh of relief as their top ace, An Woo-jin, returned to the mound on June 6. An had been demoted to the minors ten days prior to recover from severe blisters on his pitching hand, an ailment that forced him out of a late-May start after just 61 pitches.[6]

Conversely, the Doosan Bears suffered a crushing blow to their bullpen. Breakout right-handed reliever Yang Jae-hoon was diagnosed with a severe right elbow ligament injury after leaving a game against the Samsung Lions in visible pain. The team confirmed that Yang will undergo Tommy John surgery in mid-June, ending his 2026 season.[7]

Ultimately, these early-June roster shifts underscore the war of attrition that defines professional baseball. As front offices scramble to sign injury replacements and minor league prospects get unexpected opportunities to shine, the ability of medical staffs to manage workloads and expedite recoveries will heavily dictate the playoff races across the globe.