Mesa, Arizona: Gerrit Cole’s Progress
Gerrit Cole is making strides in his recovery from Tommy John surgery as he continues his spring training in Tampa. On Tuesday, during his second and final start of the spring session, he showcased his talent in an 8-3 victory over the Cubs at Sloan Park, throwing 26 pitches over one-third of an inning.
“Overall, I’m feeling pretty good,” stated Cole, who notched three strikeouts while averaging a fastball speed of 96.3 mph, topping out at 98 mph. “My performance felt really strong at a high level, and my recovery is progressing well.”
Cole has been adhering to a 14- to 18-month timeline for his return, jokingly suggesting, “Don’t mess it up every time, just write it down,” which indicates he could be back on a major league mound by mid-May. He mentioned that there’s no current need for the Yankees to adjust their 40-man roster, though the idea of being placed on the 60-day injured list, which would make him ineligible to return before May 24, hasn’t been ruled out.
While he seems to be ahead of schedule, Cole hinted at limiting his workload gradually over the next few outings. Upcoming, he is expected to pitch in Tampa before heading to New York for the home opener on April 3, where discussions about a possible rehab assignment may start.
Despite the progress, Cole remains cautious. He allowed a solo home run to former teammate Alex Bregman, noting, “I’m confident, but I still have a long road ahead. We’ll see what challenges arise, but up to now, everything is going smoothly.” He acknowledged that his command wasn’t perfect last week, but commended himself for staying disciplined during this outing.
“If possible, I’d like to gradually increase both the pitch and speed limits,” he added, looking forward to the next steps in his recovery.
In other news from the Yankees, Ryan Weathers had a solid outing, throwing 80 pitches and allowing just one run in five innings, calling it a much-needed performance after some struggles earlier. “It’s about making quality pitches,” he expressed, relieved when ground balls started to find their way to fielders.
On the roster front, reliever Osvaldo Vido was claimed off waivers by the Braves, and the Yankees traded non-roster infielder Zach Short to the Nationals for cash.
