Gerrit Cole, the New York Yankees ace and reigning AL CY Young pitcher, embraced a major step in his recovery process this week. Sidelined due to an elbow nerve inflammation injury, Cole started throwing from the mound this week after throwing on the ground for a couple of weeks.
Notably, Gerrit Cole was placed on 60 day IL during spring training after getting diagnosed with nerve inflammation on pitching shoulder. He was subsequently suggested to opt for non-surgical rehabilitation procedure. However, despite his return timeline inching closer, Cole seems very much likely to jump the timeline and delay his reinstatement.
Gerrit Cole Needs Six Weeks Build Up Before Return
The New York Yankees broke through the gates of the 2024 MLB season with an inspiring start. Despite a few losses on the road, the Yanks still seem very much comfortable in AL-East. Interestingly, the Bronx Bombers achieved all this without their ace Gerrit Cole’s presence. The defending AL-CY Young pitcher is currently under rehabilitation to heal elbow nerve inflammation injury. He was initially placed on the injury list for 60 days, thus setting the return timeline for May 27. However, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletics believes Cole’s absence could be prolonged despite no setbacks. Gerrit Cole will start throwing from the mound this week for the first time since injury diagnosis. However, Rosenthal says that a pitcher needs at least six weeks of build-up before returning to major league pitching.
And as per the present schedule, Gerrit Cole seems mostly unlikely to be ready by May 27. He will need an additional week or two to regain full-match fitness. Also, it’s important to note that Cole is of great value to the New York Yankees. Hence, the conditioning team will not rush his recovery under any circumstances. With a major half of the season still left on the cards, Cole’s return in the latter half, especially his presence in the postseason, is of greater importance for the Bombers. Moreover, in his absence, Carlos Rodon has been brilliant and is off to a breakout year after an abysmal Yankee debut in 2023. Luis Gil, the fifth starter, is also settling in slowly. Overall, the Yanks seem to be in a comfortable space without Cole. But they will need their ace at some point in the season to keep the playoff hopes afloat.
Cole Gatecrashes Young Kids’ Yankees Stadium Tour!
In his time off the field, Gerrit Cole is passing on some inspiration to the younger generation. The ace recently surprised a bunch of kids during their Yankee Stadium tour and shared insights about Babe Ruth’s souvenir bat. He had a lengthy interaction with the kids, who seemed to enjoy Cole’s presence with them on the tour.
Not only that, Gerrit Cole hasn’t left the team’s side since getting injured. He has been a part of the roster as a mentor, passing on his wisdom and expertise to his peers. And notably, Cole is enjoying his time coaching his Yankee teammates. Overall, Gerrit Cole seems to be in a good space, and his return is just writing on the wall.
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