Mar 29, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; New York Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole smiles during batting practice before the game against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
MLB: New York Yankees at Houston Astros
NEW YORK — The Yankees enter Friday with one of the best records in baseball, despite missing several key players including starting pitcher Gerrit Cole.
While the Cy Young Award winner is eligible to come off the injured list at the end of May, the Bombers will reportedly wait longer for their star pitcher to return.
The New York Post’s Jon Heyman reports Gerrit Cole (elbow) is now targeting a mid-June return.
“He’s been throwing off flat ground and the expectation is that he’ll get off a mound, perhaps, sometime in the next week. Keep in mind, he cannot come off the injured list until May 27th, and it’s probably unlikely he will be ready at that time. He might require a little bit more
Heyman adds that Cole is scheduled to throw his first bullpen session on Saturday as he works his way back from nerve inflammation in his right elbow.
The 33-year-old should progress to facing hitters in the coming weeks before heading out on a minor league rehab assignment.
He was originally aiming for a late-May return, but it sounds like the Yankees don’t want to rush him back and risk a setback.
Asked on Wednesday whether the All-Star break (July 13-16) was a more likely projection for Cole’s return, manager Aaron Boone was noncommittal.
“I wouldn’t even want to guess on that,” Boone said Wednesday night at Camden Yards. “He and the trainers and everyone are working through that. So we’ll see.”
