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After securing his first MLB Cy Young Award in 2023, New York Yankees ace Gerrit Cole looked forward to helping the Bronx Bombers make a deep playoff run in 2024.
As fate would have it, the 33-year-old star righty from Newport Beach, California made only one 2024 spring training start.
Cole encountered right elbow nerve inflammation that landed him on the 60-day injured list. That same fate, however, opened the door for another unforeseen stroke of good luck.
Surprise contributor Luis Gil has filled in fabulously in Cole’s absence to the tune of a 7-1 record and 1.99 ERA as of June 4.
Be that as it may, with Cole having a dominant performance in his first rehab start on June 4 at Double-A Somerset, the Yankees—who lead all of baseball in ERA—will likely have to make room for the big dog perhaps sooner than expected.
Let’s take a look at Cole’s performance and immediate future, and update another big-name pitcher on the mend in Texas Rangers’ Max Scherzer.
Gerrit Cole Happy With ‘Really Everything’ After Rehab Start
Cole took the mound with a restriction of 40-50 pitches. His night was finished after 45.
He tallied 34 strikes in 3.1 scoreless innings. Cole surrendered 2 hits while striking out 5, exiting to a lively ovation.
The twice Cy Young runner-up (finished top-five in voting six times overall) threw his entire assortment of pitches and topped out in the upper 90s with his fastball.
When asked about what he was pleased with, Cole told SNY, “Really everything. I threw all my pitches for strikes.”
“I was able to move the ball to both sides of the plate and get the top and bottom of the strike zone.”
Altogether, Cole seemed positive about the session and experience saying, “It was really fun overall,” per SNY.
What’s Next for the Yankees’ Ace?
After the game, New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone said they anticipated “at least a few”rehab starts, according to Chris Kirschner of The Athletic.
Boone previously stated, via MLB.com, that they were prepared to let the situation play itself out on when Cole would be considered ready to return to New York.
“It just depends. Do we want to bring him in a situation where he’s at 60, 65, 70 pitches?” Boone said this past weekend about Cole’s rehab stint. “Do we want him to have one more (rehab start)? We’ll have a better feel for that, and certainly, Gerrit will have a better feel for that as he now goes and starts pitching in games.”
“I try not to get ahead of myself with it,” Boone said. “Let’s just keep checking boxes, keep moving the needle. Ever since he got shut down, I feel like it’s moved in a good direction the whole way. It’s just about continuing to move toward that point,” wrote MLB.com
When asked for his view on when he might be ready for his 2024 regular season MLB debut, Cole undoubtedly has Yankee Nation stoked with this reply.
“Definitely close. I’m not sure how many more we’ll need but definitely closer rather than farther away. It should be right around the corner here,” per SNY.
Max Scherzer Also Nearing a Return to Rangers
On the same day that Cole made his first appearance in 63 days, Scherzer—who will turn 40 on July 27, 2024—tossed batting practice to much less fanfare than Cole.
The last time we saw the three-time Cy Young Award and two-time World Series winner was in the 2023 ALCS and World Series. Scherzer was rusty after returning early from a right teres strain (shoulder) and later succumbed to a back issue that eventually derailed his upcoming campaign.
The Scott Boras client had surgery in December 2024 to overhaul a herniated disk in his back. The right-hander had one rehab start (52 pitches) in April 2024 at Triple-A Round Rock.
Scherzer was nixed from a second rehab start due to right thumb pain later diagnosed as a deep nerve issue connected to his right triceps that has kept him sidelined until June 4.
Scherzer’s Schedule Not Yet Defined
With what seemed like a guarded optimism, Scherzer had these quotes regarding his rehab timeline.
“Got to recover well from this. Make sure my thumb is OK as I ramp back up into this. As long as I check that box, hopefully, I can get out there on rehab,” Scherzer told the AP.
“Given that I’ve been dealing with this (thumb injury) for over a year, I’ve got to see if all the new exercises are going to do something,”
All eyes were on the aging star as he managed 40 total pitches in the practice session. Along with manager Bruce Bochy, pitching coach Mike Maddux, general manager Chris Young, and owner Ray Davis were in attendance.
As has been noted, Mad Max’s first official rehab start is still undecided. That said, Bochy gave the impression an announcement might not be far off.
“We’ll check on him tomorrow, a good chance he will start his rehab possibly,” Bochy said. “I think that’s the way it’s leaning right now,” per the AP.
Scherzer was 4-2 with a 3.20 ERA in 8 starts for Texas before the September 2023 shoulder issue. A good portion of his hefty salary is still being paid by Steve Cohen and the New York Mets.
Still, Scherzer’s name is showing up in MLB trade deadline rumors despite his recent obstacles.
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