Gerrit Cole returns to Yankees rotation after lengthy recovery from elbow surgery
Gerrit Cole returns to Yankees rotation after lengthy recovery from elbow surgery originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here . Gerrit Cole crouched behind the mound, stared at the dirt and climbed back onto a major league rubber in a game that mattered for the first time since Game 5 of the 2024 World Series on Oct.
30, 2024. The Yankees ace returned Friday night after more than a year spent recovering from reconstructive elbow surgery and working through an extensive rehabilitation process. Cole underwent reconstructive elbow surgery on March 11, 2025, beginning a rehabilitation journey that stretched more than 14 months.
The road back included two spring training appearances this year and six minor league rehab starts beginning April 17, as the Yankees carefully monitored his workload and velocity. Cole entered Friday night having thrown 29 innings during his rehab assignment while posting a 4. 66 ERA.
Cole shines in return The return itself looked remarkably familiar. Cole delivered six shutout innings against the Tampa Bay Rays, allowing only two hits while striking out two batters. He threw 72 pitches, consistently touching the upper-90s with his fastball and showing flashes of the dominance that made him the 2023 American League Cy Young Award winner.
Though the Yankees eventually lost 4-2 after a disastrous eighth inning, Cole’s performance provided optimism for a club desperate for stability atop its rotation. Reuters reported that Tampa Bay rallied late with four runs, spoiling what otherwise appeared to be a triumphant comeback for New York’s ace. For the Yankees, the result mattered less than the sight of No.