NEW YORK (AP) — After an extended absence, Gerrit Cole and the New York Yankees are preparing for his highly anticipated comeback.
The pitcher is slated to make his season debut Friday evening when New York faces Tampa Bay, marking his first major league appearance in nearly 19 months following Tommy John surgery.
Cole, a six-time All-Star who earned the 2023 AL Cy Young Award, last took the mound in the majors during October 2024’s World Series Game 5 against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
“It’s been tough. I mean, I’ve missed it quite a bit,” he said Tuesday at Yankee Stadium. “There’s been some blessings along the way as well. I talked about my family, and spending time with my boys. But largely I’m just looking forward to being really tired and having that exhaustion, like, mean something.”
Manager Aaron Boone indicated that Cole was scheduled for a bullpen session Tuesday and will face pitch limitations Friday.
“He hasn’t been in that flow of competition for 17 months. That being said, it is Gerrit Cole,” Boone said. “He looks great to me. So, my expectation is that he’s going to be really good.”
Despite Max Fried joining the injured list last weekend with a left elbow bone bruise, Boone explained the team had originally planned for Cole to complete a seventh minor league rehabilitation appearance this week before returning to a big league rotation featuring Cam Schlittler, Carlos Rodón, Will Warren and Ryan Weathers.
However, following the 35-year-old right-hander’s 86-pitch performance across 5 1/3 innings for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre against Syracuse on Saturday evening, Cole and the organization shifted their approach.
“We just kind of continued to work through that. Didn’t want to make any rash decisions just because Max was out. This isn’t about that spot. It’s like, we were going to play the long game with this,” Boone said.
“But in just like, all the talks with the trainers, pitching group, Gerrit, his support group and all that, we just felt like he has done everything he needs to be ready to compete now at this level. So, I’m really excited to get him back and excited for him because, again, knowing the long road that it’s been and the blood, sweat and tears he put in the rehab process.”
During his latest minor league appearance, Cole’s four-seam fastball averaged 97 mph and topped out at 99.6 mph.
“When we all looked at it and just considered all the variables, it checked all the boxes,” he said.
Cole will take the mound for the series opener at Yankee Stadium against the AL East division rival Rays, who completed a three-game sweep of New York last month in Florida and held the league’s best record at 31-15 entering Tuesday.
“I expect it to be intense. Tough matchup. Lot of balls in play. Control the running game,” Cole said. “Lot of pressure from the other team.
“I’m most looking forward to just competing at the highest stage,” he added. “Pretty high stakes Friday night for May, and I mean, it’s just a blessing to play the game. You get a better sense of that once you’re removed from it.”
Cole expressed satisfaction with his advancement through the lengthy rehabilitation period.
“I felt like any return around this point, even with a few weeks ahead of time, would be generally viewed as a good return-to-play plan and a good level of execution. I mean, I expected to do well. I didn’t really hit any significant snags. And so, you put a lot of hard work in and execute along the way and this is where it takes you,” he said.
“It didn’t feel very quick, yet it’s been very efficient and optimal.”
Cole holds a career record of 153-80 with a 3.18 ERA across 12 major league seasons with the Pirates, Astros and Yankees. The two-time ERA champion’s comeback to an already-solid rotation should provide substantial support for second-place New York, which stood at 29-19 entering Tuesday, three games behind Tampa Bay.
“This is a good measuring stick. So you get a good litmus test of where you are,” Cole said. “I’m confident. I’m optimistic. But I definitely know there’s some work in front of us. It’s just the right time to take the next step.
“I’m as prepared as possible to do the best I can, whatever challenges come our way on Friday.”
Cole underwent testing in 2025 after surrendering two home runs during his second spring training appearance against Minnesota on March 6, and received reconstructive elbow surgery five days afterward.
This year, he completed two one-inning spring training starts on March 18 and 24, then started minor league rehabilitation outings on April 17. He posted a 4.71 ERA across 28 2/3 innings, allowing 28 hits while recording 28 strikeouts and three walks.
“We’re all excited for him and know the long road that it’s been to get back to this point,” Boone said. “I’m sure there’s been some trying moments for him, but I also feel like he’s handled it all really well, and there’s been a discipline to what he’s done.”
