New York Yankees ace Gerrit Cole is set to make his first Grapefruit League appearance of 2026 spring training on Wednesday against the Boston Red Sox. The 35-year-old right-hander, recovering from Tommy John surgery last March, plans to throw one inning at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Port Charlotte, Florida. Yankees manager Aaron Boone described the milestone as exciting but emphasized it aligns with Cole's steady rehab progress.
PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. -- Gerrit Cole will take the mound for the first time in a game since undergoing Tommy John surgery on March 11 last year. The Yankees announced that their ace is scheduled to start Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Red Sox at George M. Steinbrenner Field, with the contest beginning at 1:05 p.m. ET on YES and MLB.TV. Cole is slated to pitch one inning as he continues building toward a Major League return in late May or early June, matching the original 14-to-18-month recovery timeline set by the club. This debut comes one year and one week after his surgery, following smooth progress that included live batting practice sessions, a 35-pitch bullpen on March 12, and fastballs reaching 97.5 mph in camp. Yankees manager Aaron Boone highlighted Cole's sharpness and command, noting, “That’s what’s stood out... I think what’s been impressive is just how sharp he’s been.” Boone added that the decision solidified in the last 10 days to two weeks, assuming Cole maintains his daily progress, and stressed, “I don’t want necessarily people to think we’re speeding this up or anything. That’s not the case. He’s ready to do this.” Cole himself told the New York Post, “It just means I can go compete... It's kind of the next step.” General manager Brian Cashman remarked in February, “It’s all playing out as you would hope... he’s had nothing but good days.” The six-time All-Star, who won the 2023 AL Cy Young Award with a 2.63 ERA, posted a 3.41 ERA in 17 starts before last year's nerve issue and subsequent surgery. His return bolsters a Yankees rotation featuring talents like Max Fried amid other injuries. Boone confirmed June 1 as the target date, saying, “I don’t expect that to change much. But, we’ll see.”