Yankees set Gerrit Cole’s return for Friday vs. Rays: ‘I’ve missed it quite a lot’

The Yankees initially planned on Cole, who underwent Tommy John surgery on March 11, 2025, making one more minor league rehab start. Instead, the 2023 Cy Young winner will make his 2026 season debut at Yankee Stadium when the second-place Bombers begin a three-game series with the American League East-leading Rays. “I’m most looking forward to just competing at the highest stage,” said Cole, flashing a few grins of his own as he held court on Tuesday.

“We have a first-place club coming in. They have the best record in the American League, divisional opponent, so pretty high stakes for a Friday night in May. ” Boone, meanwhile, sounded giddy to be getting his longtime ace back.

“There’s no getting around how great a pitcher Gerrit Cole has been in his career, and with the Yankees,” Boone said, noting that the righty hasn’t pitched in a meaningful contest since Game 5 of the 2024 World Series. “To have him back, to have him healthy — I feel like he’s crushed his rehab, he’s done everything he’s needed to do to be ready for this — we’re thrilled to get him back. “We’re all excited for him and know the long road that it’s been to get back to this point.

” Boone initially thought that Cole would make one more rehab start when the Yankees left Citi Field on Sunday, and he didn’t want the team to make any “rash decisions” after Max Fried, who has assumed the responsibilities of a No. 1 starter, went on the injured list with a bone bruise over the weekend. But after consulting with Cole, trainers, the Yankees’ pitching coaches and others, “We just felt like he has done everything he needs to be ready to compete now at this level,” Boone said.