Gerrit Cole still has plenty of milestones to accomplish before the Yankees ace is ready to return to the mound, but the right-handed pitcher took a step forward Monday.
Cole played catch for the first time since being diagnosed with nerve inflammation and edema in his right elbow in March.
“It went really well,” Cole said after making 25 easy pitches from 60 feet before the Yankees won the series opener against the Marlins at Yankee Stadium. I felt good. ”
Cole is scheduled to have two more pitching practices this week, but he wasn’t sure of the exact schedule.
But Cole said it was too early to predict a possible return.
Cole has been inactive for just over three weeks now, and it will take about six weeks (the equivalent of one more spring training session) to fully strengthen his arm before returning to the rotation.
He is also not eligible to be removed from the 60-day injured list until May 27th.
Still, the Yankees will take positive news.
“This is another benchmark,” Aaron Boone said of Cole’s pitching session. “The work he has been doing has been successful. This is another important step, but there will be many more along the way. We are encouraged and hope this will gain momentum.”
Boone said he was informed by MLB that a questionable strikeout by Gleyber Torres in Sunday’s game against Toronto was misjudged by home plate umpire Angel Hernandez.
Controversy arose when Toronto’s Beauden Francis came off the rubber during windup.
When he pitched, Hernandez called it a strike three to Torres.
Boone said he was told it should have been called a quick pitch, which would have resulted in a walk and a leadoff walk for Torres.
