Two injured players who will have major impact on American League postseason race
New York Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole.
With a little over a month until the 2024 MLB trade deadline, teams are gauging how to move forward and who to target to improve their rosters for the chance at the postseason.
The American League is full of tight races, and two teams will get big boosts to their odds without needing to trade for them.
Here are two players returning from injury who will play crucial roles in the race for the playoffs in the AL.
Gerrit Cole, New York Yankees, pitcher
2023 stats: 15-4, 2.63 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, 222 strikeouts in 209 innings pitched
The winner of the 2023 American League Cy Young award, Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole, is currently rehabbing and is close to making his highly anticipated season debut in the near future.
With the best record in the MLB at 49-22, the Yankees have been able to be successful during Cole's absence, and his return would be like making a major deadline acquisition.
During his Cy Young award campaign last season, Cole put together his best season as a member of the Yankees, going 15-4 with a 2.63 ERA while striking out 222 batters in 209 innings.
One of the league's most talented pitchers since his debut in 2013, Cole will join a rotation with the best ERA and the fewest hits allowed in the MLB.
Led by rookie standout pitcher Luis Gil and last offseason's big-signing pitcher Carlos Rodon, veteran pitchers Marcus Stroman and Nestor Cortes have also given the Yankees solid innings throughout the season.
If he is fully healthy, Cole would be the piece that makes the Yankees undoubtedly the best team in the AL and the favorites to win World Series No. 28 in New York.
Josh Jung, Texas Rangers, third base
2024 stats: .412/.474/.941, two home runs, six RBI in four games played
Off to a hot start in 2024, Rangers third baseman Josh Jung fell victim to a pitch to the wrist, leaving it fractured and sending him to the injured list on April 2.
Before his injury, Jung hit .412 while slugging two home runs and having six RBI in four games to begin the season.
An All-Star in 2023, Jung also missed a significant chunk of time after a left thumb fracture before returning for the Rangers' World Series title run.
Currently 33-35, the Rangers are in second place in the American League West behind the 40-31 Seattle Mariners. They could use a big boost to their hopes of repeating, and adding Jung back to their lineup would do just that.
Set to begin his rehab soon, Jung will need to get some at-bats under his belt in Triple-A before returning to the big league club.
With the Rangers struggling to find production on offense outside of second baseman Marcus Semien and shortstop Corey Seager, Jung could provide protection to those two and maybe get outfielder Adolis Garcia back on track with his presence in front of him.
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