Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole has taken a significant step in his training, throwing off the mound for the first time since the spring training shutdown. This marks a key moment in his preparation, indicating progress as he works his way back to full pitching form.
The New York Yankees are nearing the return of their star pitcher. Gerrit Cole, their ace, threw off a mound in a bullpen session for the first time since being sidelined in spring training due to elbow inflammation. This development suggests he is on the road to recovery, with hopes of rejoining the Yankees’ pitching rotation soon.
The reigning American League Cy Young Award winner, Gerrit Cole, threw just 15 pitches in his bullpen session, all fastballs, but he seemed pleased with the outcome. He managed to throw 13 of his 15 pitches for strikes, averaging 89 mph.
“This is a good day for me today,” Cole told reporters after the session, according to the New York Post. “I was fired up this morning when I came in. I’ve just been missing it, so it’s nice to be back on the mound.”
Gerrit Cole, the right-handed ace, rated his current readiness as “somewhere under five” on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 indicating game-ready, as reported by the New York Post. This self-assessment suggests that Cole and the Yankees are cautiously monitoring his progress after elbow inflammation sidelined him during spring training.
Even if he avoids setbacks, it’s likely that the team will take time to ensure he’s fully recovered before he pitches in a game. The Yankees and Cole will need to see how his elbow responds to this recent bullpen session before they can determine the next steps in his rehabilitation.
The Yankees haven’t set a timeline for Cole’s return as they shut him down for his injury. He can be taken off the 60-day injured list at the end of May, but even after that, he will need time to get back into a starter’s routine. This typically involves a six-week process similar to spring training, and Cole isn’t ready to begin that yet.
Last season, Cole had an impressive performance, with a 2.63 ERA, 222 strikeouts, and a 15–4 record in 33 starts. This earned him a unanimous win of the AL Cy Young Award.
Despite Cole’s absence, the Yankees have had a strong start to the season, with a 21–13 record leading into their game against the Detroit Tigers. This puts them in second place in the AL East, just one game behind the Baltimore Orioles. The Yankees’ pitching staff has been performing well, with a 3.43 ERA among starting pitchers and a 3.03 ERA for the entire staff. Marcus Stroman leads the starters with at least 36 innings pitched, maintaining a 3.41 ERA.
