Yankees pitcher Fernando Cruz’ UCL tear could require Tommy John surgery, Aaron Boone warns

The New York Yankees are bracing for a potentially significant loss in their bullpen after learning the severity of Fernando Cruz’s elbow injury. Manager Aaron Boone told reporters that Cruz has a partial tear of his ulnar collateral ligament (UCL), the elbow ligament repaired by Tommy John surgery.

The right-hander will seek a second opinion before determining a course of treatment, but Boone acknowledged that surgery is a real possibility.

The setup man was placed on the injured list with what the team initially described as right elbow discomfort. Further testing revealed the ligament damage, turning a short-term concern into one that threatens to sideline Cruz well beyond this season.

A partial UCL tear does not automatically mean an operation. Some pitchers manage the injury with rest, rehab, or a less invasive internal brace procedure, while others ultimately require a full Tommy John reconstruction. The second opinion Cruz is seeking should help clarify which path makes the most sense.

Either way, the timing is difficult for both player and team. Cruz is widely expected to be shut down for the remainder of the campaign, and a full reconstruction would likely keep him out for most or all of 2027 as well. A brace procedure could offer a slightly faster runway, but any return next season would come late in the year at best.

The injury is a blow to a Yankees bullpen that has already been stretched. Acquired from Cincinnati ahead of last season, Cruz built his value on a devastating splitter and elite swing-and-miss rates, giving Boone a high-leverage weapon when healthy. His 2026 season had been a struggle by his standards, and the elbow trouble adds context to that rough stretch.

To help cover the loss, New York signed veteran reliever Michael Fulmer to a major league contract. Still, replacing Cruz’s strikeout ability is no simple task for a Yankees team already navigating a demanding stretch run.

For now, the Yankees will wait on the second opinion before mapping out the next step. What is clear is that one of their most electric relievers, when right, faces a long road back.

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