Gerrit Cole hits 96 mph in first rehab start amid return from Tommy John surgery
· Yahoo Sports
New York Yankees ace Gerrit Cole officially began his rehab assignment on Friday, making his first start since undergoing Tommy John surgery in early 2025.
Suiting up for the Somerset Patriots, the Yankees’ Double-A affiliate, Cole threw 4 1/3 innings with 3 hits allowed, 3 earned runs, 1 walk and 3 strikeouts on 44 pitches. While pitch-by-pitch data isn’t available online, he reportedly hit 96 mph in the first inning.
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He was also throwing quite a curveball.
Gerrit Cole strikeouts are BACK🔥
— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) April 17, 2026
The @Yankees ace picks up the first punchout of his rehab assignment on the curveball. pic.twitter.com/7Gxs0S2fDY
Cole’s trouble came in the second inning, when he walked a batter then allowed an RBI double to Dylan Campbell and homer to Bryson Ware on back-to-back batters.
Per MLB.com, Cole has been moving smoothly through rehab this year, with two short starts in spring training. His side session on Wednesday went well enough the Yankees decided to start the rehab assignment clock, which dictates that a player must be added back to the MLB roster within 30 days of the start of his rehab assignment. Tommy John patients may also receive three 10-day extensions.
Cole is reportedly forecasted for a return in June, though he seemed happy with where he was earlier this week:
“I have no complaints,” Cole said on Monday. “The stamina was good. The pitches are fine right now. They’re good. I’m a little nitpicky, but everything is good.”
Without Cole, the Yankees are off to an 11-9 start after a 4-2 win over the Kansas City Royals on Friday. When Cole is healthy, they will be expecting to have one of the best pitchers in baseball back in a rotation currently headlined by Max Fried and Cam Schlittler.