The New York Yankees completed a roster move Monday that could set the stage for Gerrit Cole’s return to major league baseball this weekend, marking his first appearance in over 18 months.
The 35-year-old pitcher has been working through rehabilitation assignments in New York’s minor league system while recovering from Tommy John surgery performed on his pitching elbow in March 2025.
A roster spot became available Monday when the Yankees sent Elmer Rodriguez down to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Just a day earlier, New York skipper Aaron Boone had indicated the 22-year-old rookie would get at least another major league start.
However, Boone shifted course Monday, telling reporters that Cole potentially taking the mound during the upcoming series against Tampa Bay Rays beginning Sunday at home is “on the table.”
“We’ll make a call one way or the other. … We’re talking through everything. We’ll see what makes the most sense moving forward,” Boone explained.
Cole has completed five rehabilitation outings across three New York farm teams, posting an 0-2 record with a 4.66 ERA over 29 innings pitched. His most recent appearance came Saturday for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, where he delivered 5 1/3 innings of one-run baseball while recording six strikeouts.
His fastball reached 99.6 mph during that outing, matching his hardest thrown pitch since August 2023, MLB.com reported.
“He looks really good,” Boone observed regarding Cole’s progress. “I think I’ve watched every pitch he’s made in rehab. I think it’s gone really well. He’s checked a lot of the boxes, and I feel like his last start was mostly excellent.”
Following Saturday’s performance, Cole told MLB.com: “So far, so good. It’s been a good progression. The pitch count is steadily increasing. The recovery has been good, and the velocity and command are steadily increasing as well.”
The veteran right-hander brings impressive credentials, including six All-Star selections and the 2023 American League Cy Young Award after posting a 15-4 record with a league-best 2.63 ERA across 33 starts for New York.
During the 2024 campaign, he compiled an 8-5 record with a 3.41 ERA in 17 starts, having missed the season’s first half due to elbow discomfort. Cole also contributed significantly in the 2024 playoffs, going 1-0 with a 2.17 ERA over five starts.
Throughout his major league career spanning stints with Pittsburgh (2013-17), Houston (2018-19) and New York (2020-24), Cole has accumulated a 153-80 regular season record with a 3.18 ERA across 317 starts. His postseason resume includes an 11-6 record with a 2.77 ERA in 22 starts.
Rodriguez finished his brief major league stint with an 0-1 record and 4.15 ERA over three starts. His final appearance Sunday against the New York Mets resulted in a no-decision after allowing one run over 4 1/3 innings.
To fill Rodriguez’s roster spot, the Yankees promoted right-handed reliever Yovanny Cruz from Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. The 26-year-old has no major league experience but posted a 5-1 record with one save and a 3.00 ERA in 15 Triple-A appearances this season.
