For the New York Yankees and their fans, the most important game of the weekend wasn't played at Yankee Stadium. It happened in the minors, where ace Gerrit Cole took a monumental step in his long-awaited return.
Less than 24 hours after his first minor league rehab start, Cole expressed clear satisfaction with his performance for Double-A Somerset. This outing marked a significant milestone, being his first game action since undergoing Tommy John surgery, which cost him the entire 2025 season.
"Just a lot of strike throwing and pretty solid delivery overall from a little of the stuff I looked at," Cole said Saturday, speaking with the measured optimism of a veteran on the comeback trail.
The stat line from his 4 1/3 innings against the Phillies' affiliate in Reading showed a pitcher shaking off the rust: three runs allowed on three hits, including a two-run homer, with one walk and three strikeouts. The most encouraging number? He threw 36 of his 44 pitches for strikes, demonstrating the elite command that has defined his career.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone, who reviewed the outing, echoed the positive sentiment. He noted Cole's velocity was sitting at a promising 95-96 mph and that the right-hander was able to effectively mix in his changeup and curveball alongside his fastball. "All in all, I think a really strong another step for him," Boone concluded.
For Cole, the 2023 AL Cy Young Award winner and six-time All-Star, this rehab start was about more than results. It was about feeling like himself again on the mound. He noted the outing successfully "brought the fastball back" and restored a few crucial miles per hour to his velocity compared to earlier simulated games.
The road back is a gradual process. Expected to throw around 45 pitches, Cole will need several more rehab starts to build up his pitch count and stamina before rejoining the big-league rotation. For a Yankees team with championship aspirations, the sight of their ace taking these confident strides is a powerful boost, signaling that the final piece of their pitching puzzle is getting closer to sliding back into place.