Gerrit Cole has long been a dominant force on the mound, and now he's on a mission to show he's still got it, even after a significant elbow surgery. After sitting out last season due to an internal brace procedure to fix a torn ulnar collateral ligament, Cole is gearing up for a comeback with the Yankees hopeful he'll only miss the early part of the season.
In a promising step forward, Cole took the mound at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa on Friday, facing live hitters for the first time since his surgery. The session was a major success, according to reports, and it seems Cole is on track to make a strong return.
During the session, Cole's fastball was clocked at an impressive 97 mph. He struck out center fielder Trent Grisham and got superstar Aaron Judge to ground out, showing flashes of his pre-injury form. His 20-pitch outing also featured a competitive face-off with outfielder Jasson Domínguez, ending with a line drive to the left-center gap.
Yankees pitching coach Matt Blake was thoroughly impressed, noting the sharpness and life in Cole's pitches. "Good to get the first one under his belt," Blake remarked, highlighting the significance of this milestone.
Ryan Garcia of Empire Sports Media observed that Cole's fastball velocity was right in line with his pre-injury averages. If Cole can maintain this velocity, it could significantly impact his outlook for the season.
At 35, Cole is turning heads with his performance, suggesting a return by May is within reach. The Yankees and their fans have every reason to be optimistic about his comeback, as Cole looks to reestablish himself as one of the game's elite pitchers.