Gerrit Cole is hopeful that he can begin throwing in August after undergoing Tommy John surgery in March.
The New York Yankees’ ace had the brace on his right arm moved roughly two and a half weeks ago, and his recovery is progressing as expected. Should it continue on this current trajectory, he can begin playing catch in three months.
While it is still early in his rehab process — Cole will likely miss the entire 2025 season and did not reveal a target date for a return — the wait has already been an arduous one.
“I miss playing,” Cole said on Monday prior to the Yankees’ series opener against the San Diego Padres at Yankee Stadium.
The 34-year-old right-hander added that he mentally pitches every night before he goes to sleep. “I haven’t given up any hits,” he joked.
Cole’s procedure culminated a concerning year regarding his elbow. This was the second consecutive spring in which he had dealt with an issue in that area of his throwing arm. While surgery was on the table last spring, it was decided that he would be shut down from throwing instead. He did not make his 2024 debut until June 19 and was clearly not the same shutdown pitcher he had been the year prior when he won the American League Cy Young.
In 95 innings, he posted a 3.41 ERA and a 1.130 WHIP with 99 strikeouts. While he sported a 2.17 ERA in five postseason starts, he was on the mound during the Yankees’ fifth-inning collapse in Game 5 of the World Series, which ultimately gifted the title to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Cole played a major role in that calamitous inning when he failed to cover first base with the bases loaded and two outs, which keyed the Dodgers’ comeback.
During the first week of March this year, Cole began experiencing discomfort in his throwing elbow following his exhibition start on March 6 against the Minnesota Twins. After undergoing an initial MRI, he admitted that he was “concerned” by the initial results. So was general manager Brian Cashman, who admitted that he was “prepared for the worst.” After a second opinion from renowned surgeon Dr. Neal ElAttrache, Cole was advised to undergo the Tommy John surgery.
