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The anticipation surrounding Gerrit Cole’s return to the Yankees this season is palpable, as the team carefully navigates his comeback. The challenge lies in balancing the urgency of having him back on the field with the need to ensure his long-term presence, ideally extending through the postseason in October. Unfortunately, there’s no precise gauge to predict how much they can rely on their ace, given that his arm doesn’t come equipped with a fuel meter.
Amidst the strategic planning is a highly motivated Cole, eager to return to the mound. The Yankees, however, are collaborating closely with him to strategize his usage throughout the season. While it’s conceivable that Cole could be ready by late April, a more cautious approach might be wiser, considering the broader perspective. Encouragingly, Cole has received positive updates consistently since his surgery on March 11 of last year. Yankees manager Aaron Boone confirmed at the start of training camp that Cole had already taken to the mound multiple times and might even participate in Grapefruit League games before the camp concludes.
The procedure involved inserting an internal brace into Cole’s right elbow, which typically accelerates recovery. Nonetheless, at 35 years old and with more than 2,000 innings under his belt from both regular and postseason play, his significance to a Yankees team with championship aspirations remains as vital as ever.
Cole had an internal brace inserted into his right elbow during the procedure, which tends to hasten recovery. Still, Cole is 35 with well over 2,000 career innings between the regular season and playoffs. And his overall importance to a team with championship aims has not dimmed.