Gerrit Cole’s Comeback: Yankees Ace Back on the Mound After Surgery
There’s finally some good news for Yankees fans — Gerrit Cole is throwing again. The right-hander, who missed the entire 2025 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in March, has taken an important step in his recovery. Cole shared a video on Instagram showing himself tossing fastballs during a bullpen session at Yankee Stadium, and it instantly brought a wave of relief across the Yankees’ community.
It’s been a long road back for the 2023 American League Cy Young Award winner. His surgery, performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache in Los Angeles, involved a full UCL reconstruction with an internal brace. The initial recovery timeline was set at about 14 months, which puts his potential return somewhere around May of next year. That means Opening Day 2026 might come too soon, but the sight of him back on a mound is still a huge win.
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Cole began throwing in August as part of his rehab and has remained optimistic about his progress. He’s been clear that this offseason will look “relatively normal” for him, though he’ll continue his rehab work in California over the winter. “We have a good setup in California and good communication,” Cole said earlier. “There’s not a lot of urgency to get to Tampa right away.” That measured approach shows how carefully both he and the Yankees are handling his return.
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman has also been realistic about expectations. He noted that the club doesn’t anticipate Cole being ready at the very start of the season. Still, having their ace back in any capacity during the first half would feel like a major boost — especially after the rotation’s struggles in 2025.
This past season was a patchwork year for New York’s pitching staff. Max Fried, the big offseason acquisition, had to step up as the temporary ace. He performed well, but the rotation as a whole was hit with multiple injuries — from Luis Gil to Clarke Schmidt, and even Carlos Rodón, who underwent elbow surgery of his own. It was a year of adjustments, missed opportunities, and plenty of “what ifs.”
Cole’s presence could’ve made a major difference in the Yankees’ postseason push, but that chapter is closed. Now, all eyes are on his comeback. Seeing him throw again — even just in a bullpen session — gives fans something hopeful to hold onto.
There’s still a long way to go, but the progress looks promising. If Cole stays on track, the Yankees might have their ace back by early summer. And when that happens, Yankee Stadium will surely erupt — not just for the return of a pitcher, but for the return of the heartbeat of their rotation.
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