NEW YORK — Gerrit Cole is scheduled to return from Tommy John surgical procedure Friday night time and make his season debut for the New York Yankees in opposition to Tampa Bay.
Yankees supervisor Aaron Boone introduced the plan Tuesday earlier than his workforce’s recreation in opposition to Toronto.
Cole, the 2023 AL Cy Younger Award winner, hasn’t pitched within the main leagues since October 2024 in Sport 5 of the World Collection versus the Los Angeles Dodgers.
“Been a very long time,” Boone mentioned. “We’re thrilled to get him again.”
Even after fellow Yankees ace Max Fried landed on the 15-day injured checklist final weekend with a left elbow bone bruise, Boone mentioned the workforce nonetheless supposed to have Cole make a seventh minor league rehabilitation begin this week earlier than rejoining the massive league rotation.
However after the 35-year-old right-hander threw 86 pitches over 5 1/3 innings for triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in opposition to the Syracuse Mets on Saturday night time, Cole and the Yankees modified course.
“Once we all checked out it and simply thought of all of the variables, it checked all of the bins,” Cole mentioned.
He’ll begin the collection opener at Yankee Stadium in opposition to the AL East rival Rays, who swept three video games from New York final month in Florida and entered Tuesday with the highest file within the majors at 31-15.
“I anticipate it to be intense. Powerful matchup. Lot of balls in play. Management the operating recreation,” Cole mentioned. “Lot of stress from the opposite workforce.”