When will Gerrit Cole return? Tommy John recovery timeline, more to know about Yankees ace's 2026 debut

When will Gerrit Cole return? Tommy John recovery timeline, more to know about Yankees ace's 2026 debut originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here .

The phrase "Tommy John" may be an MLB fan's least favorite couple of words to hear about a player. As one of the lengthiest recovery timelines, it means a team's pitcher will miss a full year at a minimum. Last March, New York Yankees ' ace Gerrit Cole mentioned that he was unable to lift his throwing arm.

Less than a week after the March 6 injury, Cole was on the operating table receiving Tommy John surgery, shutting him down for the 2025 campaign and a portion of the upcoming 2026 season. While Cole won't play for the team on their March 25th opener against the San Francisco Giants , or even the first couple of months, here is when to expect the Yankee ace back on the mound throwing heat. SN's MLB HQ: Live MLB scores | Updated MLB standings | Full MLB schedule Why is Gerrit Cole not pitching for the Yankees?

Cole will not appear for the Yankees at the beginning of the season, as he is still recovering from Tommy John surgery. He will have made two appearances during the Yankees' spring training after Tuesday, but the star will start the season away from the bump. March marks a year since Cole was unable to lift his arm last spring, and the expected recovery can take anywhere from 12 to 18 months.