SOMERSET, NJ — Since undergoing Tommy John surgery last March, Yankees ace Gerrit Cole has gone through a long journey of over 14 months working himself back to form.
Though he still is on that road back, the 35-year-old right-hander now sees the light at the end of the tunnel, completing his third rehab start since his rehab assignment began on April 17th with the Somerset Patriots in Double-A.
Cole, the 2023 American League Cy Young Award winner, returned to Somerset on Wednesday, April 29th, after pitching with the Yankees’ Low-A affiliate, the Hudson Valley Renegades, for his second start. His 30-day rehab window started on April 17th, but the Yankees can extend it by 10 days if need be.
Gerrit Cole, working himself back to form in the Yankees’ farm system across multiple levels, has gained a fresh perspective on the game – Image Credit: Maz Adams/Latino Sports
There was a significant step made for Cole in Wednesday’s outing as he was one close strike call away from getting through six innings while firing 60 pitches around 93-96-MPH.
Cole spoke to Latino Sports after the game and reflected on his time away from the game as a player and a person, stating, “Just a fresh perspective, just grateful to be playing a sport for a living is a blessing. I’ve become a lot more grateful for the level of competition that the big leagues are and how hard it is to play and how much I miss it.”
With more time to spend off the field than usual, Cole talked about his family life and being a father of two children.
“Hopefully I improved as a father over the last several months, being around the kids and spending more time with them,” he said as his start Wednesday included three strikeouts on 5.2 innings of three-run ball vs. the Boston Red Sox Double-A affiliate, the Portland Sea Dogs.
As for what’s next for Cole, there will be at least one more rehab assignment and probably several more outings after that before his Major League return.
“I just have to keep getting more reps, and the focus won’t change much for the next one,” he said. “It’s just about throwing strikes and making sure that all of my pitches are working, and as we get closer to the end, I’ll look at where I can make improvements on what’s working/trending and what’s not.”
One change he has already made is to his windup, which is to bring his hands all the way over his head during the initial phase of his delivery. Cole enjoys the new rhythm of it and how it keeps him upbeat and in the flow when he’s pitching.
“Even though it’s one start, there are five days of process you have to execute,” he said of his progress. “I am confident I can execute these things really well, but in reality, it’s been a while since I’ve done it.”
Gerrit Cole receiving a standing ovation from the Yankee Stadium crowd during Game 5 of 2024 World Series vs. the Los Angeles Dodgers – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
Cole hasn’t thrown a pitch in a MLB game for the Yankees since Game 5 of the 2024 World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
On his itch to get back on the mound pitching in pinstripes: “You have moments where you would ideally like to be, and I think that’s natural, and maybe that happens more as you get closer.”
The Yankees are currently 20-11 and are the best team in the American League, but the return of Cole will still give their rotation a massive boost whenever that day comes.
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