Gerrit Cole is making progress in his minor league rehab assignment, as he made his second start for Double-A Somerset. In 4 2/3 innings against the Hartford Yard Goats, he allowed one run on two hits with four strikeouts and threw 44 strikes. His velocity ranged between 92 and 96 mph, with the lone run coming from a home run by Ryan Ritter.
Cole is set to make at least one more rehab start, with the possibility of pitching on Friday. The Yankees have not decided if he will pitch for the Double-A or Triple-A affiliate for his next outing. The reigning AL Cy Young winner has yet to pitch for the Yankees this season due to elbow inflammation, with his first rehab start totaling 45 pitches in 3 2/3 innings.
New York’s starting rotation leads the AL with a 2.82 ERA, and Cole’s return could be a valuable addition to the team. Yankees manager Aaron Boone mentioned that Cole may need two more rehab starts to reach a count of 100 pitches before joining the team without being fully stretched out. A potential return to the Yankees during the home series against the Orioles from June 18-20 would be a welcome sight for fans of both teams.