Yankees ace Gerrit Cole one step closer to return

The New York Yankees are one step closer to getting their ace back in their rotation.

Joel Sherman of the New York Post reported that Gerrit Cole will start the Yankees' spring training game against the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday. He is currently expected to pitch for one inning.

Cole underwent Tommy John surgery on March 11, 2025, costing him the entirety of last season. His timetable to return to the Yankees remains unclear as he will need time to build his pitch count should he not suffer any setbacks during his outing. 

Gerrit Cole would give Yankees envisioned co-aces atop rotation

Cole had missed the first two months of the 2024 season due to right elbow inflammation. He pitched well when he was able to return to the mound, posting a 3.41 ERA and a 1.126 WHiP over his 95 innings, striking out 99 batters with 29 walks.

If Cole can replicate that performance, he would form a formidable duo with Max Fried atop the Yankees rotation. Fried did his part as the ace of the Yankees staff in 2025, posting a 2.86 ERA and a 1.101 WHiP over his 195.1 innings, striking out 189 batters with 51 walks while leading the majors with 19 wins. 

That is a big if. While Cole has an impressive track record, he is 35 years old and has not pitched since Game Five of the 2024 World Series. It is fair to wonder how much Cole has left in the tank. The Yankees will begin to find out on Wednesday when Cole makes his first spring training start.