Yankees' Gerrit Cole Opens Up on 'Really Dark' Elbow Injury Rehab After Surgery

Gerrit Cole is having to watch from off the field as his New York Yankees look to make another World Series run, but the star pitcher is working to get back on the mound as soon as he can following Tommy John surgery.

Cole said the weeks after his initial elbow injury were scary, but things are looking better now.

"It starts out really dark," Cole told reporters, via ESPN's Jorge Castillo. "And then you work your way closer to the end of the tunnel."

Per Castillo, Cole's current plan has him returning to the mound in mid-May of next year, though he has not made that a hard deadline just yet.

"The only thought I've given to 2026 is just to try to execute the first eight weeks so far of this rehab," Cole said. "Like you're growing bone and stuff so it's been important to get good sleep and eat well and progress through the rehab.

"I hope it comes back maybe like a fresh new set of tires. That's best hope. Just a pit stop that took a little longer than we had hoped for. But I really don't know. Who's to say? People are fairly confident. I'm a bit pragmatic, though."

Castillo noted that Cole reached a milestone in his recovery two and a half weeks ago when he had a brace protecting his right elbow removed. He plans to throw again in August.

Without their ace, the Yankees have managed to stay afloat, sitting atop the AL East standings at 19-15 thanks to MVP caliber play from Aaron Judge.