Gerrit Cole still envisions himself pitching every night before he falls asleep.
That’s about as close as he’ll get to the game this season, unfortunately.
Tuesday marked eight weeks post-Tommy John surgery, which means Cole has moved past the most challenging stage of recovery, and his right elbow is healing well.
He’s been free from his braces for two and a half weeks now, and thankfully, his range of motion is starting to return.
This week, he spoke to the media for the first time since spending a Sunday game in the dugout this season, after the surgery that will keep him out until the next season starts.
“It’s frustrating,” Cole mentioned during a 21-minute discussion in the Yankees clubhouse. “Sure, it stinks, but I’m starting to move past it, which feels good. Being back in the dugout? That’s nice.”
His surgery involved reconstructing the UCL and using an internal brace. Cole anticipates about 14 months for recovery.
If everything goes smoothly and he commits to an aggressive rehab process, he could be back on the mound by April next year.
For now, though, he’s concentrating on smaller achievements, with his sights set on picking up a baseball and throwing it for the first time in August.
“I hope it feels like a new set of tires,” Cole remarked. “Just a pit stop that took a bit longer than expected.”
