MESA, AZ — New York Yankees ace Gerrit Cole looked to his left, pulled out a bat from outfielder Jasson Dominguez’s bag Tuesday, and rapped his left knuckles on it for good luck.
Yes, things are going so good for the Yankees this spring, and Cole’s elbow recovery, that he wasn’t about to jeopardize anything now.
Cole, in his second outing of the spring, took another critical step in his rehab from Tommy John surgery with a dominant six-batter outing against the Chicago Cubs, and if everything keeps progressing, should be returning to the Yankees rotation within two months.
It may be premature to be counting down the days to his season debut, but after not pitching in a game that counts since the 2024 World Series, this torturous layoff has given him even further admiration and love for the game.
“Having not played much the last couple of years,’’ Cole said, “I think there’s just maybe a little greater appreciation for the game. The level of talent. The level of intensity. The demand of the game. It demands your focus, it demands your appreciation.
“I enjoy that, so that’s been nice to get back into that environment. It’s a good prep for what’s to come the next few weeks.’’
Cole looked a whole lot like his old self Tuesday, the one that has dominated hitters throughout his 12-year career, earning six All-Star berths, a Cy Young award and two ERA titles. He pumped 96-to-98-mph fastballs against the Cubs in the Yankees’ 8-3 victory, striking out three of the first four batters he faced without a walk. He threw 17 of his 26 pitches for strikes in his 1.2-inning outing, throwing 11 pitches at 96-mph or higher. He was satisfied with all but two pitches, he said, and that didn’t include the 416-foot homer he gave up to All-Star third baseman Alex Bregman on a 96.1-mph sinker low in the zone.
“That was a good pitch,’’ said Cole, “but a better swing. So it’s the way it goes with good players sometimes.’’
While the Yankees departed Tuesday for their 2026 season-opener against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park, Cole will be heading back to their minor-league complex in Tampa. He will travel back to New York to be with the Yankees for their home opener April 3 against the Miami Marlins at Yankee Stadium. He will then spend the next month training in Tampa before eventually beginning his rehab assignment with hopes of rejoining the Yankees in mid-to-late May.
“I felt good coming into camp,’’ said Cole, “and I feel good now. … My level of execution has been really strong, and the recovery for the most part has been really strong. Just kind of plugging away. It’s a long way to go, but a good body of work so far. …
“I’m confident, but there’s still a lot of pitching to go. We’ll see what challenges come my way. But so far, so good. I keep stacking as many good days together as I can. I’m very pleased with how things have gone.’’
Gerrit Cole pitching against the Cubs.
Really, it’s the same sentiment the Yankees are feeling about themselves, having one of the best spring trainings during manager Aaron Boone’s tenure.
“I’m excited,’’ Boone said. “Look, I caution it’s only camp, but we’ve had a hell of a camp. Like, we’ve had a lot of the answers we were hoping to get. Knock on wood, a lot of good health. A lot of guys that are on their way back, trending in a really good direction with their rehab. I feel like the young players that are going to be future core of this, maybe sooner than later, really showed well.
“And I feel like we’re going to have competition brewing for opportunities throughout the year because of our depth right now. And hopefully that remains with good health and good performance. But camp-wise, it’s hard for it to go much better than it did, but that’s camp. Nobody cares about camp 10 days from now.
“It’s about the 162 now, and we’re excited to get after it.’’
It’s a whole different feeling leaving camp than a year ago, when Cole underwent season-ending Tommy John surgery, starters Luis Gil and Clarke Schmidt were injured and missed the start of the season, and DH Giancarlo Stanton was sidelined most of the spring with tennis elbow that delayed his season debut until June.
This time, not a single major injury, with Gil expected to be called up and rejoin the rotation in early April and Carlos Rodon projected back in late April or early May.
Certainly, there will be no excuses for the Yankees, who will be judged differently than everyone else beginning in their season opener.
Every victory will be exaggerated.
Every defeat will be overblown.
All that matters is October.
Get to the postseason and lose, it’s a bust.
Get to the World Series and lose, it’s still a bust.
Win the World Series, OK, it’s about damn time.
“I’m 53,’’ Boone said. “This is my life. That’s all I’ve lived all of my life. October is a long way away. Obviously, we want to get there and play in it, and be the last team. But there’s just so many things you got to go through as a team and give yourself a chance to be in that position. …
“We’re just looking forward to getting going.’’
Follow Nightengale on X: @Bnightengale
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Yankees excited by spring training, Gerrit Cole Tommy John recovery
Read the full article here
