The New York Yankees starting rotation has surprisingly stayed put despite ace Gerrit Cole’s absence. Carlos Rodon and Marcus Stroman, especially, have been impeccable on the mound. However, the bullpen troops have been equally disappointing, which is creating a huge strain on the pitching staff.
A half-strength Yankees bullpen has visibly lacked experience. While Clay Holmes has been excellent as a closer, the likes of Ian Hamilton and Victor Gonzalvez are still struggling. Amid concerns, a key relief arm could reportedly soon make a comeback as he recently took an important step towards recovery.
Yankees Tommy Kahnle Likely To Return In May!
Relief pitcher Tommy Kahnle, known for his high-velocity fastball and devastating changeup, has been sidelined since spring training with a shoulder strain. Notably, Kahnle, who was shut down last season with the same injury, failed to recover in time, and hence, his opening-day debut was delayed. However, in a recent update shared by New York Yankees skipper Aaron Boone, Kahnle could be back in action around May. Boone added that Kahnle tossed 15 pitches over one simulated inning in live batting practice on April 27 at the Yanks training complex in Tampa. That’s the first time the pitcher has tossed that many innings on the trot. This milestone marks a significant achievement for Kahnle, who has worked tirelessly to overcome the challenges associated with his injury.
Not only that, the reliever is scheduled to start pitching from the mound on April 30 or May 1. The timing of Kahnle’s potential return could not be better for the Yankees, who have been dealing with injuries and inconsistencies in their bullpen throughout the season. With key relievers such as Clay Holmes and Ian Hamilton shouldering heavy workloads, the addition of Kahnle would provide much-needed relief and allow manager Aaron Boone to manage his bullpen usage down the stretch better. In addition to his on-field contributions, Kahnle’s presence in the clubhouse would also provide a morale boost for the Yanks, who have been dealing with pitching adversities throughout the season. Overall, while the exact timeline for Kahnle’s return remains uncertain, the fact that he has progressed to this stage in his recovery is a promising sign for the Bronx Bombers and their fans.
Gerrit Cole To Start Throwing From Mound This Week!
In another important injury update, New York Yankees fans’ can breathe a sigh of relief as ace Gerrit Cole is likely to start pitching from the mound this week in what is considered to be an important step in his rehabilitation process. Cole already made throws from 120 feet last week and has been progressing without any setbacks.
That being said, Gerrit Cole is unlikely to return until the final week of May which is when his current timeline expires. And if analysts are to be believed, Cole will need a week more than that to completely regain fitness. Hence, Gerrit Cole will likely be reinstated somewhere around the first half of June which is extremely important for Yankees playoff campaign.
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