TAMPA, Fla. — New York Yankees ace Gerrit Cole made his highly anticipated return to competitive pitching Wednesday, taking the mound for the first time in 377 days following Tommy John surgery.
The right-handed pitcher delivered a clean first inning against the Boston Red Sox in spring training action, throwing 10 total pitches with seven finding the strike zone. Cole’s fastball showed encouraging velocity, averaging 97.1 mph across six four-seam fastballs, with his hardest reaching 98.7 mph and his softest clocking 96.1 mph. He also mixed in two sliders and two knuckle-curve pitches.
The inning began with Braiden Ward bunting Cole’s opening pitch — a 96.6 mph fastball — down the right field line for a base hit as the pitcher attempted to make the defensive play. Ward advanced to second base on a steal but was later thrown out attempting to swipe third by Yankees catcher Austin Wells, with Kristian Campbell flying out in between.
Jason Delay managed to line a 1-2 fastball into left field for a single before Nathan Hickey ended the frame by grounding out on Cole’s first-pitch knuckle-curve.
Cole showcased a modified pitching motion, raising his hands above his head during his windup, and sported facial hair thanks to the Yankees’ relaxed grooming standards implemented last season.
The 35-year-old underwent the elbow reconstruction procedure on March 11 of last year under the care of renowned Los Angeles Dodgers team physician Dr. Neal ElAttrache.
Cole’s most recent competitive appearance came during Game 5 of the 2024 World Series on October 30. The All-Star had participated in two spring training contests in 2025 before his surgery, with his final outing occurring on March 6.
His spring preparation began with a bullpen session on February 13, followed by his first live batting practice seven days later.
Yankees skipper Aaron Boone anticipates Cole will rejoin the regular season rotation sometime between late May and early June.
Cole’s 2024 campaign was also delayed, with his season opener pushed back to June 19 due to nerve inflammation and swelling in his pitching elbow. Despite the late start, he compiled an 8-5 record with a 3.41 ERA across 17 regular season starts and posted a 1-0 mark with a 2.17 ERA in five playoff appearances.
The veteran pitcher is currently working under a massive nine-year, $324 million deal that runs through 2028. Throughout his career with Pittsburgh (2013-17), Houston (2018-19), and New York (2020-present), Cole has accumulated a 153-80 record with a 3.18 ERA over 317 starts.
