Yankees’ Gerrit Cole throws six scoreless innings, hits 98.6 mph in first start after Tommy John surgery
For the first time in 569 days, Gerrit Cole was on the mound for the New York Yankees Friday, and it was like he never left. Cole was masterful in his return from Tommy John surgery, holding the top-ranked Tampa Bay Rays scoreless in six innings. He allowed two singles and three walks, struck out a pair and threw 72 economical pitches in New York’s 4-2 final loss.
“It was almost like a second debut,” Cole said said about his first return from Tommy John surgery. “It was a nice time and it was nice to be back in the fire.”
Cole got into trouble right away Friday, allowing a single to Chandler Simpson and a walk to Junior Caminero to start the game. A fly out, a pickoff and a strikeout later, the first inning was over. That began a stretch in which Cole struck out 12 of 13 batters, including a seven-pitch third inning and a four-pitch fourth inning.
“Really effective. I thought he was really good. They were very aggressive with him, but I thought he did a good job,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. said after the match. “… Really exciting to get him back and get him out there. I’m sure he carried a lot of emotions with him there.
Under the hood, Cole’s business was very much alive. His fastball averaged 96.1 mph, almost exactly his average before surgery in 2024, and he peaked at 98.6 mph. It was Cole’s fastest throw in a regular season game since August 2024. Control is usually the last thing to return after an elbow reconstruction, but Cole was sharp. He was constantly pointing his knees with his lead.
Although he threw as many as 86 pitches in his last Triple-A rehab start, the Yankees kept Cole on a tight leash in his first MLB start and removed him after six innings and 72 pitches. The Yankees didn’t want to push him too hard, too soon, after a grueling 14-month rehab. Figure Cole will get up to 80 pitches in his next start, then 90, then a full 100.
“I felt like it was a smart play,” Cole said. said about the exit after 72 throws. “It may sound easy, but it was a tough, high-pressure game. We had a fast inning and made some great defensive plays that also led to that efficiency. Overall, it was a good job for what we had there.”
New York’s starting pitchers entered Friday with the fifth-best ERA (3.22) and best WAR (6.6) in baseball, even without Cole throwing a pitch this season. Here is the club’s current rotation depth chart:
- RHP Gerrit Cole
LHP Max Frit(going out with a bruised elbow)- RHP Cam Schlittler
- LHP Carlos Rodon
- RHP Will Warren
- LHP Ryan Weather
RHPLuis Gil (on Triple-A injured list with shoulder inflammation)- RHP Elmer Rodriguez
Cole essentially steps into Fried’s rotation spot. Both are not yet healthy at the same time with the Yankees. They hope it will happen in a few weeks, when Fried returns. Rodón returned from his own elbow surgery (bone spurs) earlier this month. This is New York’s healthiest big league rotation since around mid-2024.
Friday was Cole’s first MLB game since Game 5 of the 2024 World Series. His elbow gave way during last spring training and he underwent Tommy John surgery shortly afterward. Last weekend, Boone said the Yankees would ask Cole to make another rehab start in the minor leagues, but they changed their plans and brought him back Friday instead.
Alas and alas, New York’s bullpen blew a slim 1-0 lead and allowed four runs in the eighth, preventing Cole’s comeback. The Yankees fell to 0-4 against the Rays this season.
In 2024, his final season before Tommy John surgery, Cole pitched to a 3.41 ERA in 17 starts after dealing with a nerve issue in his elbow during spring training.
