Gerrit Cole will make his first rehab start Friday with Double-A Somerset, marking the first regular-season game action for the Yankees’ ace since 2024. Manager Aaron Boone confirmed the move Wednesday following a 5-4 walk-off victory over the Los Angeles Angels, signaling a concrete step in Cole’s recovery from Tommy John surgery performed in March 2025.
He’s not entering this assignment cold. Cole logged two brief appearances during the end of Spring Training and has spent the last two weeks in a cycle of bullpen sessions and live batting practice. During a Sunday session, he tossed 42 pitches over three innings, a performance that pushed team officials to move him from simulated environments into actual game action.
Team officials weighed the risks of a game start against further simulations before settling on Friday. Cole described his own progress as steady, though he admitted to being “a little nitpicky” about the process. He told reporters Monday that his stamina and pitch quality felt good.
Cole returns to game action Friday
This start represents a critical milestone for the 35-year-old, who hasn’t pitched in a competitive game since starting Game 5 of the 2024 World Series. While the move to Somerset is a positive indicator, big-league readiness is likely still a month or more away.
League rules generally grant pitchers up to 30 days for minor league rehab assignments. For those recovering from Tommy John procedures, the league often provides extensions in 10-day increments to ensure the ligament is fully conditioned for the stress of a Major League workload.
Cole’s return will overlap with that of shortstop Anthony Volpe, who is also rehabbing at Somerset following surgery to repair a partially torn labrum in his left shoulder. Volpe’s return is more immediate; he played five innings on Tuesday, though he went 0-for-2 with two strikeouts against Phillies pitcher Zack Wheeler.
Why the current rotation remains volatile
New York is currently relying on a rotation consisting of Max Fried, Cam Schlittler, Will Warren, Ryan Weathers, and Luis Gil. While Fried, Schlittler, and Warren have performed well through their first four turns, the bottom of the rotation is unstable.
Ryan Weathers has shown the high-strikeout potential that made him an offseason trade target, but he’s been inconsistent. He has managed to work beyond five innings only once this season, leaving the bullpen exposed early in games.
A healthy rotation would run at least six deep once Cole and Rodón return. Until then, the Yankees are navigating a window where a single injury or a continued slump from Gil could force the team to rely on an unproven bullpen or inefficient starters.
Between the two injured arms, Rodón may return first
Carlos Rodón is following a different recovery track. He underwent a procedure in October to remove loose bodies from his elbow and has not yet begun a formal rehab assignment. However, his workload is ramping up quickly.
Rodón threw 50 pitches in a simulated game at Yankee Stadium on Monday and is scheduled for another live batting practice session this Saturday. Because his surgery was less invasive than Cole’s total ligament reconstruction, he could potentially rejoin the Bronx rotation before the ace does.
What Volpe’s return means for the bench
Volpe’s return to the active roster will trigger a necessary roster purge. General manager Brian Cashman has already stated that Volpe will reclaim the starting shortstop role, which currently belongs to José Caballero.
Caballero has provided some timely heroics, including a walk-off two-run double against the Angels on Wednesday, but his overall production is poor. He’s batting .169/.222/.288 on the season and will likely slide into a utility role once Volpe is activated.
Roster flexibility is now a primary concern for the front office. Backup catcher J.C. Escarra is the only bench player with minor league options. This creates a likely DFA scenario for another player, potentially Randal Grichuk, who has struggled significantly in a platoon role, batting 1-16 to start the year.
Volpe remains focused on the physical checkpoints of his recovery. He expressed a desire to “run the bases” and “dive” before returning to the majors, seeking to regain the flow of a daily schedule. It’s a necessary reset; despite playing through his shoulder injury last season, Volpe regressed in both offensive and defensive metrics, finishing with a meager 1.0 fWAR in 153 games.
When is Gerrit Cole expected to return to the MLB rotation?
While he begins his rehab assignment this Friday, Cole is likely still a month-plus away from being ready for big league action.
How does Carlos Rodón’s injury differ from Cole’s?
Cole underwent Tommy John surgery in March 2025 to repair his elbow ligament. Rodón underwent a procedure in October to remove loose bodies (bone chips) from his elbow.
Who is currently filling in for Anthony Volpe at shortstop?
José Caballero has been the everyday shortstop in Volpe’s absence, though he is expected to move to a utility role once Volpe is activated.
