New York Yankees ace starting pitcher Gerrit Cole has been sidelined for the entire 2024 season. He felt some discomfort during Spring Training in his elbow and was shut down indefinitely. Now, he is beginning to work his way back.
This weekend, Gerrit Cole held his third bullpen session since working his way from throwing off of flat ground to a mound. It was another positive step forward for the star pitcher, as he threw breaking pitches for the first time.
All in all, Gerrit Cole threw 29 pitches in the session on Saturday. He said he threw 13 curveballs and was happy with where his fastball is at, as he was touching 89 miles per hour on the radar gun.
“Fastball profiles were good,” Cole said. “Location was good. Velocity was where we wanted. A lot of strikes.”
While his rehab is progressing, Cole did admit he isn’t sure how many more sessions he will have to go through before facing live hitting. But, on a positive note, he did say that a simulated, two-inning outing will be coming in a workout soon.
Alas, the New York Yankees aren’t expecting to see their star back on the mound in pinstripes for at least a few more weeks. On the 60-day IL, Gerrit Cole isn’t expected to return until June, at the earliest.
In Year 5 of a nine-year, $324 million contract, this offseason is a big one for Cole and the New York Yankees. He has the right to opt out of his contract and become a free agent again, but the team can deny that opt out.
If that occurs, a guaranteed $36 million salary will be added for Cole in 2029. That seems like an inevitability as an extra guaranteed year is hard to pass up for the 33-year-old reigning Cy Young award winner.
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