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Gerrit Cole shows some rust as he hits ‘big milestone’ in his first Yankees rehab start
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- Gerrit Cole shows some rust as he hits ‘big milestone’ in his first Yankees rehab start
Gerrit Cole Yankees
BRIDGEWATER, N.J. — Gerrit Cole took a significant step in his long journey back to The Bronx on Friday night via TD Bank Ballpark, making his first rehab start (Double-A Somerset) since undergoing Tommy John surgery more than 13 months ago.
The Yankees ace displayed strong command, along with some rust, in his 4 ¹/₃-inning outing, allowing three runs (one home run), three hits and one walk, while throwing 44 pitches (36 strikes) and recording three strikeouts.
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The 2023 AL Cy Young winner, who isn’t expected to rejoin the Yankees until late May or early June, hadn’t pitched in an official game since Game 5 of the 2024 World Series.
“I have a lot of confidence, but tonight was probably not the exact same guy,” Cole said. “Hopefully, it’s on its way.”
Cole took the mound to a standing ovation, giving the minor league crowd a rare chance to see a potential Hall of Famer at the 6,100-seat ballpark. Even rarer was the sight of a six-time All-Star eager to step onto such a stage, making his long-awaited return.
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“I felt good,” said Cole, who threw 2 ²/₃ innings in two outings during spring training. “It was fun to get back out there, game situations, a little extra adrenaline with the crowd.”
In a perfect first inning, Cole nearly surrendered a home run to right to Reading’s second batter, Carson DeMartini, but the ball drifted foul, allowing the right-hander to recover with a swing-and-miss breaking ball for a strikeout.
Gerrit Cole pitching during his rehab outing with Double-A Somerset on April 17, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Before the second inning, Cole was thrown a curveball when his temporary teammates batted around in a five-run frame. Following the 20-plus-minute wait, Cole issued a one-out walk, then surrendered a two-out, run-scoring double, followed by an opposite-field, two-run homer.
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“I didn’t come out quite so sharp that inning so that was a good challenge,” Cole said. “That was really the only time the command was a little shaky. The walk was a bad walk.”
In a four-pitch third inning, Cole found frustration — and a reminder of the lowest moment of his career — when he didn’t immediately break for first base on a grounder to the right side, though Somerset first baseman Coby Morales stepped on the bag in time.
Gerrit Cole got touched up for a few runs in the second inning. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
“I got there late,” Cole said. “That was not good.”
The 35-year-old, whose fastball consistently reached the mid-90s, needed just four pitches to complete the fourth inning. He returned for one more at-bat and finished by fielding his position, leaving to his loudest applause of the night.
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“Probably the only thing I didn’t accomplish was really moving the four-seam [fastball] as well as I know I can,” Cole said. “I was pleased with the changeup. I misexecuted one. The curveball was very sharp. I didn’t make any mistakes with that pitch. The slider was good. I hung one slider. … The fastball was good overall. Good pressure at the top and a lot of strikes, but I know I can move it better.”
Cole isn’t the only nine-figure starter the Yankees expect back in the near future.
Carlos Rodón — who underwent surgery on his left elbow in October — is scheduled to throw live batting practice Saturday at Somerset after throwing 50 pitches in a simulated setting Monday at Yankee Stadium. Rodón, 33, had been on the verge of making a rehab start, but suffered a setback two weeks ago when he felt tightness in his hamstring.
“We’re very excited to get those guys back,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Friday. “We know how good they are their entire careers. We know what they’re capable of. But it’s a process, too, of getting them back. They’re still a little ways off. The biggest thing right now is making sure they’re checking all the boxes and getting built up properly and then hopefully, when they enter back into the rotation, we get the impact we hope and expect.”
