Gerrit Cole Returns to the Mound with a New Look and Familiar Fire
When Gerrit Cole showed up to Yankees spring training this week, it wasn’t the beard that turned heads - it was the windup, the velocity, and the unmistakable presence of an ace reclaiming his space.
Just a few months removed from elbow surgery, Cole is already back throwing bullpen sessions - and not just lobbing fastballs to show face. He’s working with intent.
One day after whispers surfaced that he might even be eyeing a spring game appearance by the end of March, Cole stepped on the mound and looked both refreshed and vintage. The hands now rise high above his head in a classic, almost retro motion - a notable change from his pre-surgery delivery, but one that still packs plenty of heat.
How much heat? Try 94 mph consistently, with one heater touching 96.
That one had Yankees manager Aaron Boone mouthing the number to his coaching staff, eyebrows raised. It’s early, sure, but that kind of zip - this early in camp - is a promising sign for a team that’s built its 2026 hopes on having its ace back in full force.
Cole’s revamped mechanics aren’t just for show. When asked if the new windup - hands over the head, old-school style - would stick around into the season, he didn’t hesitate.
“Yeah,” he said.
Why?
“It feels good.”
That’s about as straightforward as it gets, and honestly, that’s all the Yankees need to hear.
Cole followed up his bullpen with a press conference that offered more insight into where he’s at - physically and mentally. While he’s still on the expected 14-to-18-month recovery timeline from his elbow procedure, which would place his return somewhere around late May if all goes smoothly, there’s a quiet confidence in how he’s approaching the process.
No shortcuts. No rushing.
Just steady progress - and, based on what we saw Friday, maybe even a little ahead of schedule.
“It feels different than it has been in quite some time,” Cole said of his elbow. That’s a big statement from a guy who’s pitched through plenty in recent years - including a scare back in early 2024 that hinted at the very issue he’s now finally resolved.
For the Yankees, this isn’t just good news - it’s essential. Their 2026 roster is built on the idea of running it back with a healthy core, and that plan only works if Cole is anchoring the rotation.
They’ve got depth, sure, but they’d rather not be dipping into the Carlos Carrasco-type contingency plans again. If Cole returns on time and at full strength, it gives the Yankees both stability and flexibility - perhaps even enough to shift some of their rotation surplus into bullpen reinforcements later in the season.
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. For now, Cole is throwing.
He’s throwing well. He’s throwing hard.
And he’s doing it with a new look that feels less like a makeover and more like a statement.
The Yankees’ ace is back on the mound - and if this is the first glimpse of what’s to come, the Bronx might just be in for something special.