Gerrit Cole is still a long way from getting back on the mound, but Yankees fans finally got some encouraging news.
The ace right-hander, who underwent Tommy John surgery on March 11, shared a major update on his recovery this week, and it’s all trending in the right direction.
Speaking to reporters, Cole said his elbow brace came off two and a half weeks ago, which marks a big step in his road back. However, when asked about a potential return timeline, Cole declined to provide a target date, stating that it’s too early to predict his availability for the 2026 season.
The 34-year-old revealed that he mentally pitches before going to bed.
“I mentally pitch every night before bed,” Cole said with a grin. “I haven’t given up any hits.”
Yankees’ Starting Rotation Challenge
With Gerrit Cole out, the Yankees have been leaning hard on Max Fried, and to his credit, he has stepped up in a big way. He has taken on the ace role and handled it like a true leader. Carlos Rodon and Clarke Schmidt have also been important, even if their seasons haven’t been totally smooth.
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Will Warren was pushed into the rotation a bit earlier than planned and has had a tough time finding his rhythm. Carlos Carrasco has been hit-or-miss so far.
Injuries haven’t helped either. Luis Gil has yet to make his season debut after sustaining a lat strain during spring training, and Marcus Stroman is also dealing with a knee issue. All of this has left the Yankees patching things together week to week, trying to stay afloat without their ace.
The Yankees have had a mixed start to the 2025 season, currently holding a 19–16 record and leading the AL East. Their offense has been a bright spot, with Aaron Judge delivering an MVP-caliber performance, leading MLB with a .414 batting average, 11 home runs, and 33 RBIs.
Veteran Paul Goldschmidt has also contributed significantly, batting .361 with 16 RBIs and a .906 OPS.
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