In the heart of February, the sounds of baseball's return are unmistakable. Sure, the crack of the bat is music to our ears, but the real story is in the pop of the catcher’s mitt, especially when the radar gun starts flashing those electrifying numbers. Right now, it’s Yankees ace Gerrit Cole who’s making those numbers sing.
Forget about the usual slow build-up post-surgery. Cole isn’t just “working his way back” or “building toward form.”
He’s back. Period.
In his first live batting practice since elbow surgery, Cole was already hitting 95-96 mph and even touched 97. That’s not just encouraging; it’s downright remarkable.
Typically, pitchers returning from Tommy John surgery ease back in, often hovering around 92 mph while everyone nods along, hoping for the best. But Cole?
He skipped that phase entirely, jumping straight back to his ace-level velocity.
This isn’t just a rehab milestone; it’s a statement. When Cole himself admits surprise at hitting 97, it tells you everything. Less than a year after ligament reconstruction, when your body outperforms your expectations, you know something special is happening.
According to Greg Joyce, Cole felt good during the session and even better the next day. That’s the real test-the day after.
It’s when most comeback stories hit a snag with swelling or stiffness. Not this time.
Cole woke up feeling strong, and that’s crucial because his value to the Yankees isn’t just about April; it’s about October.
With Cole in top form, the Yankees’ potential skyrockets. Without him, they’re a solid team, but with him anchoring the rotation, they become championship contenders.
Remember his Cy Young season in 2023? A 2.63 ERA, leading the league with 209 innings, and a WHIP just over one.
That’s the kind of performance that stabilizes an entire rotation.
Even if Cole returns to something close to his 2024 form, with a 3.41 ERA in the regular season and a stunning 0.71 in the World Series, the Yankees will be thrilled. Without him, their pitching staff feels incomplete. With him, everything clicks into place.
In postseason baseball, having a true No. 1 starter like Cole is a game-changer. He’s one of the few who can single-handedly shift momentum, silence a crowd, and dominate a matchup. That’s rare, even for the Yankees.
The exciting part? Cole might not need a long ramp-up.
Typically, pitchers regain velocity first, then command, and finally stamina. This process can take a full season, but Cole’s near-peak velocity suggests his return could be quicker than expected.
With the stuff already there, it’s about managing workload and rhythm-things that are predictable and manageable.
The Yankees’ season hinges on this reality. If Cole stays healthy, they’re serious contenders for the title. If not, they’ll need everything else to go perfectly just to make a deep run.
So yes, it’s only February, and it’s just one live BP session. But when the radar gun is already shouting the answer, sometimes that’s all you need. Cole looks like Cole again, and if that holds, the rest of the American League just felt a seismic shift.