Yankees’ Gerrit Cole tops 98 mph in eventful first start since Tommy John surgery
TAMPA, Fla. — Hours before the Yankees hosted a collection of Red Sox minor leaguers on Wednesday, Gerrit Cole was met with a playful greeting as he strolled up to his locker at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
“Hey Gerrit! ” his neighbor, Cam Schlittler, said with a humorous tone. “You excited?
Big day for you! ” The truth is, Wednesday was a big day for Cole, as he made his first start since undergoing Tommy John surgery 372 days ago. And while the spring training outing only lasted one inning and 10 pitches, the most significant step in Cole’s rehab to date wasn’t uneventful.
Right off the bat, Cole’s first pitch, a 96. 6-mph fastball, was met with a bunt single from Boston’s Braiden Ward. The 2023 Cy Young winner tried to make a sliding play on the ball near the first base line, but Ward, who recently set the spring training stolen base record, reached with ease.
Ward then picked up his 19th stolen base, swiping second. But Ward got greedy and attempted to steal again. This time, Austin Wells threw the runner out at third, allowing Cole to go back to the old-school, over-the-head-windup he debuted earlier this spring.