Ryan Garcia
Joel Sherman of the New York Post is reporting that Gerrit Cole will pitch one inning for the Yankees against the Red Sox tomorrow on Wednesday.
While this does not change his timetable of return according to Sherman, it is a massive step towards his return as he will face live hitters in an uncontrolled environment.
New York is hoping to get their ace back at some point in May or June, but his rapid recovery and the advancements he’s made during his rehab process have been encouraging.
He’s reportedly been up to 97.5 MPH and has already begun throwing breaking balls and changeups in live bullpen situations.
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Gerrit Cole Will Pitch Tomorrow For the Yankees
A little over a year ago, Gerrit Cole underwent Tommy John Surgery to reconstruct a fully ruptured UCL ligament, but the Yankees found a way to stay afloat despite it.
Max Fried and Carlos Rodon were two of the 10 best pitchers in the American League last season while Will Warren and Cam Schlittler came up from within to provide support.
The Yankees needed to rely on some shaky pitchers such as Marcus Stroman and Carlos Carrasco, but entering 2026 they feel like they’re in a much better place.
Gerrit Cole’s return to the team could give them the best rotation the game if everyone is clicking, and they have some young prospects on the way to provide more firepower.
The Yankees have been adamant that Cole will not rush his return as has the former Cy Young winner himself, but the progress is certainly notable.
Recovery from such an injury usually takes between 14-18 months, the shortest end of that indicating that Cole could return on May 11th.
New York has yet to place him on the 60-day IL, which would rule him out until May 24th at the very earliest.
All signs are pointing towards the Yankees potentially getting their ace in tip-top shape in the 14-15 month range of his recovery timeline.
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