Gerrit Cole: Yankees Ace Looks Sharp in Final Spring Training Start After Tommy John Surgery

Gerrit Cole, the New York Yankees’ ace, struck out three batters in his final spring training appearance Tuesday against the Chicago Cubs, a performance he deemed “pretty good” despite allowing a home run to Alex Bregman. The 35-year-old right-hander is recovering from Tommy John surgery and is optimistic as he prepares for a delayed season debut.

Cole pitched 1⅔ innings, throwing 26 pitches with 17 resulting in strikes. He gave up one run on Bregman’s home run. “Good pitch, better swing, and that’s the way it goes with good players sometimes,” Cole said after the game. “I had some good shapes and some good spots, so pretty good day.”

This outing marked Cole’s second and final spring training start. He will now return to Tampa, Florida, to continue his rehabilitation and build arm strength. A late May or early June debut is currently anticipated, according to the team.

Cole’s fastball averaged 96.3 mph during the outing, peaking at 98 mph. He utilized his full repertoire of pitches, including his knuckle curve, slider, sinker, changeup, and cutter.

The Yankees open the regular season Wednesday against the San Francisco Giants without Cole in the rotation. The team has opted for a four-man starting rotation to begin the season, leaving Luis Gil, who had been vying for a spot, headed to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone explained the decision to send Gil to the minors was to allow him to maintain a starting pitcher’s routine. “I think he was a little upset about it, but I feel like he’s in a good frame of mind right now,” Boone said Tuesday. He emphasized that Gil remains a strong contender for a rotation spot in the future, stating, “We expect him to be in the rotation, but at the same time, there’s a lot of people pushing for competition right now that are pushing themselves into the conversation.”

The Yankees will initially rely on Max Fried, Cam Schlittler, Will Warren, and Ryan Weathers as their starting pitchers. The team has four off days scheduled within the first 13 days of the season, providing some flexibility in managing the pitching staff.

Cole, who last pitched in a regular season game in Game 5 of the 2024 World Series, is under contract with the Yankees through the 2028 season, a $324 million, nine-year deal. Throughout his 13-year career, he has amassed a 153-80 record and a 3.18 ERA, having previously played for the Pittsburgh Pirates (2013-2017), Houston Astros (2018-2019), and the Yankees.