The New York Yankees have been one of the best teams in baseball this season despite missing their ace, Gerrit Cole. Cole was diagnosed with nerve irritation and edema in his pitching elbow after just one spring training appearance. The reigning American League Cy Young Award winner has yet to make his season debut, but New York has continued to find ways to win.
Getting Cole back will be a welcome sight for the Bronx Bombers, adding more firepower to their arsenal. Over the last few seasons, Cole has been one of the best pitchers in baseball. His absence has been felt deeply, as evidenced by his impressive stats last season with a 2.63 ERA and a 0.98 WHIP, leading him to win the Cy Young.
While New York has managed to win many games without Cole, his return will relieve some of the pressure on the players who have been filling in. With the World Series in their sights, the Yankees know Cole will play a crucial role in helping them achieve that goal. Assuming he gets through his rehab start without issues, he will likely make a couple more rehab appearances before rejoining the major leagues.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone announced on Sunday that Cole would make his first rehab start on Tuesday of this coming week. Although Cole had thrown some bullpen sessions before this announcement, this rehab start marks the first significant step toward his eventual return to the mound. He was eligible to come off the injured list on May 27, but the Yankees have been cautious with their ace.
As Cole inches closer to his return, the Yankees are optimistic about their chances of solidifying their status as top contenders and making a deep postseason run. His return not only boosts their pitching rotation but also brings renewed energy and confidence to a team already performing at a high level.