New York Yankees ace Gerrit Cole will return from Tommy John surgery to make his season debut Friday against the Tampa Bay Rays.
The 2023 American League Cy Young Award winner confirmed his readiness after completing a minor league rehab assignment. Cole touched 99.6 mph with his fastball during his most recent start for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and reported feeling strong upon returning to New York. Yankees manager Aaron Boone announced the activation from the injured list on Tuesday, shifting plans after Cole expressed confidence in his recovery progress.