Gerrit Cole's First Test Back From Tommy John: 44 Pitches, Three Runs, and a Long Road Ahead

Gerrit Cole is taking his rehab one step at a time, and Friday night in Double-A showed exactly where the Yankees ace stands after missing all of 2025 to Tommy John surgery. Cole threw 44 pitches against Reading, a Philadelphia Phillies affiliate, and gave up three runs over 4⅓ innings in his first minor league rehab start since the elbow reconstruction sidelined him. He allowed three hits, including a two-run homer, plus one walk and three strikeouts. The good news? 36 of those 44 pitches were strikes.

Cole's Night: Building Back to Form

The target was about 45 pitches, and Cole hit that mark almost exactly before exiting with a 7-3 lead after fielding a grounder to retire the leadoff man in the fifth inning. He set down his first three batters cleanly, but Reading made him work in the first, sending 10 hitters to the plate and scoring five runs. In the second, Cole gave up a two-out RBI double to Dylan Campbell and an opposite-field homer to Bryson Ware. It wasn't pretty, but it was a start. Yankees manager Aaron Boone sounded optimistic before New York took on Kansas City at Yankee Stadium. "Excited for him," Boone said. "Another good step along the way for him and hopefully everything goes smooth for him and start that process."

Cole Isn't the Only One Rehabbing

Cole isn't alone in working his way back. Three-time All-Star Carlos Rodon is also on the rehab trail. The left-hander threw 50 pitches to batters over three simulated innings before Monday's game against the Los Angeles Angels and is scheduled to face hitters again Saturday in live batting practice at Somerset. Boone said Rodon will likely begin a rehab assignment next week and will need three rehab games to get ready. Rodon had surgery on Oct. 15 to remove loose bodies in his left elbow and shave a bone spur, and his progress has been slowed by right hamstring tightness.

Cole, a six-time All-Star and the 2023 AL Cy Young Award winner, made a pair of one-inning spring training starts on March 18 and 24 before this assignment. His previous session saw him throw 42 pitches over three simulated innings Sunday against batters from High-A Hudson Valley. Boone knows these guys are elite, but he's not rushing anything. "We know how good they are. So we know what they're capable of. But it's a process, too, in getting 'em back," he said. "The biggest thing right now is making sure they're checking all the boxes and getting built up properly and healthily."

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.