Marking a significant development for the New York Yankees, ace Gerrit Cole is scheduled to start Sunday at Double-A Somerset. This will be his second rehab outing following a spring training setback, brought on by right elbow inflammation. Manager Aaron Boone confirmed Cole’s pending return on Friday.
Game Plan for Cole’s Comeback
Earlier this week, Cole completed a noteworthy stint, pitching 3.1 scoreless innings with Somerset on Tuesday. The 33-year-old athlete demonstrated impressive stamina and skill, managing to execute 45 pitches against Hartford. His defensively aggressive play was marked by an exhilarating fastball that ranged from 94-97 mph, helping him to notch five strikeouts.
Reflecting on his progress, Cole expressed his anticipation for his impending return to the mound, claiming that he’s “definitely close”. He acknowledged uncertainty about how many more rehab appearances would be needed, but sounded optimistic about his recovery progress. Putting speculation to rest, Boone reiterated on Wednesday that Cole needs only “a couple more” rehab appearances before rejoining the highly-rated Yankees’ rotation.
Cole’s Ailment and Road to Recovery
The recipient of last year’s American League Cy Young Award was sidelined in mid-March due to difficulties in bouncing back between outings after just one spring training start and a test game. Subsequent tests and consultations with orthopedic surgeon Dr. Neal ElAttrache resulted in Cole being diagnosed with inflammation and edema in his right elbow.
On April 8, however, the six-time All-Star began playing catch again, and a month later, on May 4, he started throwing off a mound. Last season, Cole ended the year with an impressive 15-4 record, a 2.63 ERA, and 222 strikeouts in 209 innings, earning his first Cy Young Award.
The Yankees are hoping to fortify their already strong pitching lineup with the re-entry of a fully-fit Cole. Currently in its three-game series against the Dodgers, the Yankees stepped on the field boasting an MLB-best 2.81 ERA.
Benchmarks for Schmidt and Ferguson
In other Yankees’ camp news, right-handed pitcher Clarke Schmidt has expressed confidence about returning sooner than the initial four-to-six-week projection due to a right lat strain. Schmidt’s ambitious recovery goal has gained support from the team, setting a stage for his return after being down with discomfort from his last outing in San Diego.
Meanwhile, former Los Angeles left-hander Caleb Ferguson opines which of his ex-teammates is the hardest to pitch against. The Yankees’ relief pitcher stated a preference for Freddie Freeman over Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts, citing Freeman’s incredible bat-to-ball skill.
The return of Cole spells good news for the Yankees as they continue to solidify their reputation in the league. Fans will undoubtedly watch eagerly as one of the baseball world’s best pitchers makes his return.