Gerrit Cole Injury Return Timeline Revealed by Yankees' Aaron Boone Amid MiLB Rehab Stint

Gerrit Cole will return to the New York Yankees one start sooner than expected.

Manager Aaron Boone announced on Tuesday that Cole would make his season debut on Friday against the Tampa Bay Rays:

Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reported Monday the American League East team was "discussing" having the right-hander skip his final scheduled minor league rehab start and instead joining the rotation in the majors.

"We're talking through everything," Boone said on Monday.

Cole, who has been recovering from the Tommy John surgery he underwent in March 2025, hasn't appeared in the bigs since Game 5 of the 2024 World Series.

When healthy, he is one of the best pitchers of his generation with a resume that includes the 2023 American League Cy Young, two ERA titles and six All-Star selections. He was limited to just 17 starts in 2024 as well, but he was dominant during that 2023 campaign with a 2.63 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 222 strikeouts in 209 innings.

Cole put up league-best numbers in ERA, WHIP, shutouts (two), innings and pitcher WAR (7.4) that season, per Baseball Reference.

While it may take him some time to return to that form, Hoch reported he threw 99.6 mph in his sixth Minor League rehab start Saturday while allowing one run and striking out six in 5.1 innings.

It was his first start in Triple-A following two starts for High-A and three for Double-A.

"So far, so good," Cole said. "It's been a good progression. The pitch count is steadily increasing. The recovery has been good, and the velocity and command are steadily increasing as well."

New York could certainly use his presence back in the rotation with Max Fried now on the 15-day injured list because of an elbow injury. Carlos Rodón has made just two starts since returning from the injured list himself, and the team has been reliant on Cam Schlittler, Ryan Weathers and Will Warren.

Schlittler has been excellent, and Cole's return should give the Yankees one of the best one-two punches in a rotation in the league. 

Despite the pitching injuries, New York is still in second place in the AL East and three games behind the division-leading Tampa Bay Rays.