Anticipation settles over New York as the Yankees’ Ace is set to make his season debut. Since sustaining an elbow injury in early spring, Gerrit Cole will start on Wednesday for the first time in 2024.
His return has been three months in the making since experiencing nerve inflammation and swelling during a Spring Training appearance. Cole will be returning to a very hot Yankees team, as they are currently harboring the best record in baseball at 50-24. The Yankees hope the addition of their Cy Young award winner will put them well above their opponents.
He will be facing the Baltimore Orioles in what is expected to be a tough series as they are only 1.5 games back of the Yankees.
Cole Gears Up As He Makes His Return
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Early March marked the beginning of worry for the New York Yankees as the news of elbow troubles plagued their star pitcher. Though the injury to his elbow was extensive, Cole was able to avoid Tommy John and other surgical procedures to focus on a physical rehab program.
He has made three Minor League rehab starts, making great leaps forward in all of them. In his most recent appearance, he threw 70 pitches in Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre where he was almost unhittable. In 4.1 innings, he registered 10 strikeouts and allowed just two hits.
Cole, feeling physically ready, will join a rotation that has stepped up in big ways during his absence. They currently hold a team ERA of 3.02 due to standouts like Luis Gil, Carlos Rodon, and Clay Holmes.
Cole’s Impact On New York
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Cole is entering his 12th season in the MLB and his fifth with New York. He has been a part of the Yankees organization since 2020. In that time, he has posted elite numbers which have solidified him as one of the best arms in the league.
In 2023, Cole had one of the best seasons of his career, earning him his very first Cy Young Award. He had an ERA of 2.63 while registering 222 strikeouts. Cole is aiming to build off of the excitement and production of last season and bring the same intensity to the mound in 2024.
The Yankees hope the combination of Cole, their strong lineup, and consistent pitching staff will propel them to their first World Series since 2009.
New York Moving Forward
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With Wednesday marking his return, Cole’s pitch count will be monitored as he builds his performance back up. New York hopes for a solid 80-85 pitches out of Cole to get him back into action and ready for his next start.
The Yankees will begin their series against Baltimore on Tuesday, June 18. This will begin a three-game set between the two current rivals. A strong showing from New York is imperative for them to maintain their status at the top of their division and as the best team in the league. With the Yankees already performing incredibly, Cole aims to make them unbeatable going forward.
About The Author
Rebekah Cook is a sports journalist from North Carolina who specializes in Major League Baseball. She is a recent graduate from the University of South Carolina Aiken where she worked in the athletic department covering all sports through her writing. An avid sports fan, Rebekah has played softball for 16 years, including at the collegiate level. Sports Journalism has been her passion for nearly 10 years.
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