The New York Yankees received an exciting update on Gerrit Cole’s recovery from Tommy John surgery.
Cole missed the entire 2025 season after tearing a ligament in his right elbow that required Tommy John surgery to repair. After winning the American League Cy Young Award in 2023, Cole made only 17 appearances in 2024, yet he remains one of the most dominant pitchers in all of baseball. The righty hurler went 8-5 with a 3.41 ERA, striking out 99 batters in his limited action, and excelled in the playoffs, posting a scorching 2.19 ERA for the Yankees before their World Series loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Though the recovery from Tommy John surgery is a long road, Cole’s making headlines after posting a video of himself throwing off a mound for the first time since his injury, as shared in a post on X by The Athletic’s Chris Kirschner.
The Yankees’ anticipation of Cole’s return is palpable. The Bronx Bombers were arguably the best offensive team in baseball this season, scoring more runs and mashing more home runs than any other team. The pitching staff, however, was middle-of-the-pack at best and especially struggled during the postseason.
Cole’s impact on the Yankees’ rotation is significant. Without his presence this season, New York had to rely on pitchers like Max Fried, Clarke Schmidt and Carlos Rodón. Fried and Rodón had good seasons, but the Yankees’ rotation elevates to a whole new level with Cole in the mix. With the emergence of young hurler Cam Schlitter, the Yankees will have a strong starting rotation next season.
Cole is not expected to be ready for the start of the 2026 season, but is estimated to make his return to the field sometime in mid-May. The 35-year-old pitcher is making great progress in his recovery, and his recovery gives Yankees fans a positive outlook for next season.
More MLB: Yankees Surprisingly Not Expected To Pursue $120 Million All-Star: Report
Read the full article here
