Gerrit Cole’s Rehab Start in Bridgewater
BRIDGEWATER, N.J. — Gerrit Cole made significant progress on Friday night at TD Bank Ballpark, marking his first rehab appearance since undergoing Tommy John surgery over a year ago with Double-A Somerset.
Despite the positive step, it was clear that Cole still had some rustiness. He pitched 4 1/3 innings and allowed three runs, including a home run, while giving up three hits and walking one. He threw 44 pitches in total, with 36 of them for strikes, alongside three strikeouts.
The 2023 AL Cy Young Award winner aims to return to the Yankees by late May or early June. It’s worth mentioning he hasn’t played in an official game since Game 5 of the 2024 World Series.
Shortstop Anthony Volpe, also in rehab from left shoulder surgery, expressed admiration for Cole’s journey. “His recovery was a lot longer than mine,” he noted. “I’ve seen how hard he worked. Watching him come back is huge. It’s a significant milestone.”
Cole was greeted with a standing ovation as he entered the stadium, offering the minor league audience a rare chance to watch the future Hall of Famer.
Something else unusual happened, too: a major league star working his way back, seemingly just as thrilled to be on the mound again.
In his first inning, Cole successfully guided a soft ground ball to second base but faced a tense moment when Reading’s No. 2 hitter, Carson DeMartini, nearly smashed a homer down the right side—only to foul it off. He regrouped, threw a curveball, and struck out the batter.
Things took a turn when, heading into the second inning, Cole faced an unexpected challenge. His team changed its batting order, trailing by five runs after the first inning. He gave up a walk with one out, then a two-out double that led to a two-run homer, leaving Cole to assess the situation.
Despite those challenges in the second inning, Cole found his rhythm. He consistently threw fastballs in the mid-90s and worked through the third and fourth innings with just four pitches. In the end, he concluded his stint to a loud round of applause from the crowd.
Previously, he threw 42 pitches in a simulated game at High-A Hudson Valley and had made two brief appearances in spring training.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone emphasized the importance of a cautious progression, saying, “One step at a time. We’ll build on this from here. Even if he returns, we’ll be conservative.”
Cole isn’t the only notable player working toward a comeback. Fellow pitcher Carlos Rodon, who underwent elbow surgery in October, is set to throw 50 pitches in a simulated environment at Yankee Stadium on Monday. He was supposed to start his rehab but faced a setback two weeks ago due to hamstring tightness.
Boone shared his enthusiasm: “We’re thrilled to have them back. They have impressive careers and a lot of potential. But it’s vital to ensure they’re fully ready before rejoining the rotation. We want them to have the impact we hope for.”
