Gerrit Cole's First Post-Surgery Spring Outing Set

New York Yankees ace Gerrit Cole is set to make his first appearance in a game setting since undergoing Tommy John surgery over a year ago, pitching one inning in Wednesday's spring training matchup against the Boston Red Sox at George M. Steinbrenner Field.

The 35-year-old right-hander, who missed the entire 2025 season following the March 11 procedure to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his throwing elbow, has progressed steadily through rehabilitation. Yankees manager Aaron Boone announced the news Tuesday, emphasizing that the outing represents a controlled step in Cole's recovery rather than an acceleration of his timeline. "The fact that he's getting into a game now kind of indicates where he is and how well it is going," Boone said. "I don't want people to think we're speeding this thing up or anything. That's not the case. It's just... he's ready to do this."

Cole's preparation included a 35-pitch live batting practice session on March 12, where he reached 96 mph with his fastball and displayed command of his changeup and slider. Boone highlighted Cole's delivery as a key factor in his sharp performance despite the layoff. "One of Gerrit's superpowers was his...