Gerrit Cole made a triumphant return to the mound for a rehab start at Double-A Somerset on Tuesday night, showcasing that he is back in top form. He pitched 3 1/3 innings, allowing zero runs, no walks, two hits, and striking out five against the Hartford Yard Goats. Cole threw 45 pitches, which was within the planned range of 40-50 pitches set by Somerset manager Raul Dominguez. Impressed with 34 of those pitches being strikes and his fastball sitting between 94-96 mph, Cole felt great about being back on the mound and in the flow of things.
After the game, Cole expressed how much it meant to be back on the mound after being sidelined this season due to right elbow inflammation that occurred during spring training. While both Cole and manager Aaron Boone did not reveal the exact number of rehab starts needed before his return to the Yankees, Cole hinted that he is getting closer and should be back soon. Despite Cole’s absence, the Yankees have been performing well this season with a 43-19 record, the best in MLB. Pitchers like Luis Gil, Marcus Stroman, and Carlos Rodon have been stepping up in the rotation. If Cole gets a second start in Somerset, he could potentially pitch on Sunday to close out a home stand against the Yard Goats.