Yankees’ Gerrit Cole reveals just how lonely and painful his road back to the mound really was

NEW YORK — Before Gerrit Cole throws his first pitch against the Rays on Friday night, he’ll take a moment to draw a deep breath, the kind that will stretch the lining of his lungs. The Yankee Stadium crowd will be on its feet, cheering Cole’s comeback . His teammates will be thankful for the return of their best pitcher.

Cole will soak it all in, even if no one quite understands what a long, difficult road he’s traveled. For the first time since Oct. 30, 2024, Game 5 of the 2024 World Series, Cole will pitch in a major-league game that counts.

The thin scar that snakes along the side of Cole’s elbow is only a physical reminder of his life over the last 14 months. On March 6, 2025, he left his spring training outing against the Twins “concerned” and ultimately needed Tommy John surgery five days later. The right-hander has a new ligament and a new chapter in his career.

But Tommy John surgery is a grueling detour – and not always successful. “You never hear about the guys who don’t make it back,” pitching guru Tom House, who’s worked with hundreds of pitchers in his career, told me. Of the 300 or so active hurlers who’ve undergone the procedure, approximately 25% have failed to regain their former skills or flamed out altogether.