Yankees suffer major injury scare just 17 days before MLB opening day with star pitcher Gerrit Cole set to have an MRI on his elbow after 'having trouble with his recovery between starts' - following Aaron Judge's early exit

It's two pieces of news that will have New York Yankees fans anxious for updates and fearing the worst: two of the team's superstars are already suffering from injuries and the season hasn't even started yet.

Starting pitcher Gerrit Cole is set to undergo an MRI after experiencing some form of discomfort in his right elbow, according to manager Aaron Boone.

Cole was set to make his second start in spring training on Tuesday, but that's now been pushed back.

'His recovery, before getting to his next start, has been more akin to what he feels during the season, when he's making 100 pitches,' Boone said. 'When he's at 45 [pitches] and building to 55, he usually doesn't have the recovery issues he's having.'

'I think there's a level of discomfort, but I wouldn't describe it as pain.'

Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole will undergo an MRI on his pitching elbow after 'discomfort'

Not only that, but Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge has been described as 'mid-Spring beat up'

Yankees manager Aaron Boone says that Judge won't be playing again until Wednesday

That news on its own is bad enough, but was coupled by a poor prognosis on outfielder and team captain Aaron Judge.

Judge left a game against the Atlanta Braves early on Sunday. When reporters asked Boone about his condition, the manager described his level of wear-down as being 'mid-spring beat up'.

Boone added that Judge wasn't expected to play again until Wednesday - and that he wouldn't take batting practice or participate in a split-squad game on Monday.

A season that started with some promise seems already in danger with these injury concerns.

The Yankees went 82-80 missed the playoffs last season for the first time since 2016 in spite of Cole winning the Cy Young Award.

To prevent that from happening again, the team made a number of moves in the offseason - including trading for outfielders Juan Soto and Alex Verdugo and signing free agent pitchers Marcus Stroman and Luke Weaver.