Gerrit Cole throws 60 pitches in third rehab start as journey back to Yankees continues
Cole, who missed all of last season while recovering from Tommy John surgery, is expected to return to the majors in late May or early June.
Gerrit Cole’s pitch count keeps climbing in the minors as he prepares to rejoin the New York Yankees this season. Cole, a six-time All-Star who will be 36 in September, is attempting to complete a long-awaited comeback from Tommy John surgery , which cost him the 2025 campaign. On April 16, the 2023 AL Cy Young Award winner threw 44 pitches in his first rehab start, notably reaching 96 mph while on the bump for Double-A Somerset .
He followed that outing with a 52-pitch performance last Thursday for High-A Hudson Valley. Back with Double-A Somerset on Wednesday, Cole ramped up his workload to 60 pitches, going 5 2/3 innings in a 6-5 loss to Double-A Portland, a Boston Red Sox affiliate. Gerrit Cole looking solid in his third rehab start!
5. 2 IP | 3 H | 3 ER | 0 BB | 3 K | 60 pitches pic. twitter.
com/PQqTNF5IEI — Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) April 29, 2026 Cole recorded only three strikeouts and gave up three runs, but he didn’t issue a walk, and he went nearly six innings deep. He retired the first 11 batters he faced; however, he eventually conceded two homers. That said, of his 60 pitches, 45 were strikes.