Yankees ace Gerrit Cole made a significant stride towards returning to the team’s rotation, pitching a strong outing for the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders against the Rochester Red Wings, a Washington Nationals affiliate.
In a game where he struck out 10 batters over 4⅓ innings, Cole expressed optimism about his performance, noting that he effectively used all his pitches and hit his spots well. This outing marked his third minor league rehabilitation start, following two appearances with Double-A Somerset.
Throughout his rehab starts, Cole demonstrated command and efficiency, throwing 46 of his 70 pitches for strikes against Rochester and maintaining a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 19 strikeouts with no walks over 12⅓ innings in total.
Despite his eagerness to return to the Yankees, Cole acknowledged the importance of building up his pitch count and ensuring a smooth transition without disrupting the team’s current momentum.
Manager Aaron Boone, when asked about Cole’s next steps, remained cautious about confirming whether this would be his final rehab start, suggesting that the decision would be made shortly. Cole’s journey back to the mound for the Yankees began after being sidelined with nerve inflammation and edema following his lone spring training start in March.
In previous rehab outings, Cole demonstrated consistent progress, including a 4⅔ inning, one-run performance for Somerset, where he maintained control and effectiveness with a high strike percentage. Looking ahead, the Yankees anticipate Cole’s return could come as early as next week, potentially making his season debut against the Baltimore Orioles.
Cole’s performance in Triple-A signals a positive trajectory for his return to the Yankees’ rotation, bolstering their pitching depth as they maintain their position atop the American League standings. His ability to consistently strike out batters and limit hits during rehab outings underscores his readiness to contribute to the team’s ongoing success in the coming weeks.