Gerrit Cole has been a big missing piece in the New York Yankees roster this season as the reigning AL CY Young winner has been missing in action since spring. In a first significant durability test of his career, Cole was sidelined with 10-12 weeks with elbow nerve inflammation injury.
However, the New York Yankees starting rotation filled the void to a certain extent to script a league record in May with an amazing 15-game stretch. However, with completion leveling up as the second half inches closer, the Yanks are set to welcome its ace, Gerrit Cole, later in the month.
Gerrit Cole To Begin Rehab Assignment With Double-A Somerset Patriots
The New York Yankees have stayed afloat long enough in the absence of ace and reigning AL CY Young-winning pitcher Gerrit Cole this season. It has been over 2 months since Cole last took the mound in pinstripes. But nevertheless, the wait is finally over. On Sunday, manager Aaron Boone confirmed that Cole will commence his rehab assignment on Tuesday with the Double-A Somerset Patriots. Rehab assignment is the last step in the pitcher’s recovery program, and barring any setbacks, the ace is expected to be reinstated next week. Notably, Boone clarified that Cole will need a minimum of two rehab outings before the conditioning team can take a call on his official return to the roster. “I try not to get ahead of myself with it. Let’s just keep checking boxes,” Boone said.
Interestingly, after his final live session last week, Gerrit Cole was asked if a return is June on the cards, and the ace didn’t rule it out. He neither confirms nor denies it. However, some insiders did claim that the New York Yankees are eyeing mid-June as the earliest return date for Cole. Rehab assignments in the minor leagues are a standard practice for pitchers returning from injury, allowing them to test their arms in a competitive yet controlled environment. For Cole, this assignment is about regaining his rhythm, ensuring his mechanics are sound, and building up his pitch count under game conditions. The defending AL CY Young winner could likely begin with approximately 50 pitches before gradually building up in the next successive starts.
Yankees Rotation Dilemma Ends With Clark Schmidt’s Injury
The New York Yankees starting rotation comprising of Carlos Rodon, Nestor Cortes, Clarke Schmidt, Marcus Stroman and Luis Gil produced exceptional number in Gerrit Cole’s absence to script league history with a 15-game clinical stretch in the month of May. However, it posed a strange dilemma for manager Aaron Boone as he had to make space for Gerrit Cole whose return in imminent.
However, Aaron Boone’s conundrum ended even before it could begin as Clarke Schmidt picked up a lat strain injury. Schmidt was put on 15-day IL last week with a lat strain and has been shut down for a minimum of 4 weeks. With no surgery in sight, Schmidt’s return is unlikely until the next couple of months, meaning Gerrit Cole can replace him on an imminent basis.
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