BRONX, NY — The New York Yankees will have their ace back on the mound Friday night in the Bronx.
With his last pitch in the majors thrown on October 30th of 2024 in Game 5 of the 2024 World Series, the night the Los Angeles Dodgers clinched the Fall Classic at Yankee Stadium, Gerrit Cole, undergoing Tommy John surgery on March 11th of 2025, is all set for his return.
“I’m ready,” the six-time All-Star said to reporters earlier this week.
Gerrit Cole receiving a standing ovation from the Yankee Stadium crowd as he walks off the mound after his outing in Game 5 of 2024 World Series – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
And so are his teammates, coaches, Yankee fans and fans of the game—despite their rooting interests—as the 35-year-old right-hander, one of the best pitchers in the sport, winning the 2023 American League Cy Young Award, missed the entirety of the 2025 season along with the first 50 games of 2026.
“That’s our ace, he’s been for a bunch of years,” said Yankees’ J.C. Escarra of Cole’s return, which will be against Tampa Bay with the Rays and Yankees opening up a three-game series. “You know now that he’s healthy, he’s better than ever, so we’re excited to have him back.”
Escarra, 31, a proud Cuban-American from Hialeah, Florida, making his MLB debut with the Yankees last season on March 29th, has yet to have the opportunity of catching Cole in a MLB game. Only in spring training and during some of Cole’s rehab assignments.
Like every fan of the game, and Yankee in the clubhouse, J.C. Escarra is looking forward to Gerrit Cole being back on the mound after a year-plus long recovery from Tommy John surgery – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
“He’s been looking great in his rehab and I’m already familiar with him, catching him a little bit in some rehab assignments in the minor leagues and spring training,” he said, with Cole’s road back to the mound taking approximately 569 days—October 30, 2024-May 22, 2026.
“When the time comes, I’m going to be really excited to catch him in a real game here in the big leagues.”
Though the most important part of it all for Escarra, regardless of him catching Cole or watching from the dugout, is knowing the Yankees’ ace is 100% healthy and back to doing what he loves most.
“The comeback is going to be even bigger,” he said. “I’m just glad that he’s healthy and able to compete for the team.”
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