TAMPA — Cole’s Progress Post-Surgery

At 35, Gerrit Cole has made some changes—there’s a bit more facial hair, his delivery looks slightly different, and he’s had his ulnar collateral ligament surgically reconstructed.

On Friday, he stepped onto the bullpen mound at Steinbrenner Field and appeared quite much like the Gerrit Cole fans remember, as he simulated two innings without any batters.

Though he has a significant journey ahead before he pitches in a major league game—potentially three months if everything goes smoothly—there are many obstacles to navigate first.

Just over 11 months post-Tommy John surgery, having missed all of the 2025 season, the former AL Cy Young Award winner provided a glimpse of hope for the Yankees regarding what lies ahead.

“He looked like a Cy Young pitcher,” remarked catcher Austin Wells. “He seemed smooth and in control, confident in his abilities.”

This was just a February bullpen session, a solid step forward. Cole might face hitters in a week or two and possibly even participate in a Grapefruit League game before spring training wraps up.

Cole mentioned that in discussions with the Yankees and Dr. Neal El-Atrache, the surgeon responsible for his elbow, the target return was always about 14 to 18 months. He’s right on track.

Having had the surgery on March 11 last year means he could be back around May 11.

The exact version of Cole the Yankees will get upon return is still unclear.

Some pitchers take the entire season to regain their form after Tommy John, while others bounce back much faster.

Cole is aware of this and, understandably, wants to stay grounded regarding this coming season.

So far, his rehabilitation, which he describes as “long and tedious,” has gone well. This gives both him and the Yankees a sense of optimism.

“I’m a confident person. There are high expectations, but I don’t set any specific performance goals. I’m handling things day by day,” he said. “The challenge is continuing that as things ramp up.”

During the pitching session, Cole’s fastball reached 94 to 96 mph, with the sound of Wells’ glove popping echoing in the bullpen, as various Yankees officials looked on.

At this stage in rehab, Cole acknowledged the importance of monitoring his speed to avoid pushing too hard too soon.

“When I’m told to push, I push,” he said. “If I need to stop, I’ll stop. I haven’t wavered from my goals.”

The Yankees, for their part, won’t rush Cole’s return, regardless of any enthusiasm to move forward.

Rushing him back for an early season game could jeopardize his availability later when the pressure is higher.

“We want him to have the right amount of time to prepare and come back smartly,” manager Aaron Boone noted. “Even though things are going incredibly well, we’re not hurrying into anything.”

Cole shared his cautious optimism regarding his recovery.

His previous elbow had carried him through over 2,000 innings, but he mentioned the new one feels “different.”

When asked if that might translate into throwing more upon his return, he smiled and said, “We’ll see.”

What seems most pressing for Cole is returning to a normal routine, eager to step back into a significant role in the Yankees’ rotation.

“I just miss playing,” he expressed. “I miss that feeling of working hard and being exhausted every five days.”