Gerrit Cole made his first rehab start after Tommy John surgery, pitching for the Somerset Patriots. The Yankees ace faced some challenges but successfully returned to game situations in front of a sellout crowd.
Key points
Gerrit Cole made his first rehab start after Tommy John surgery
He pitched for the Somerset Patriots at TD Bank Ballpark
Cole faced a sellout crowd of 7,115
It had been 568 days since his last regular-season outing
He experienced some command issues but overall performed well
Mentioned in this story
TD Bank Ballpark
Gerrit ColeYankeesSomerset Patriots
BRIDGEWATER – Gerrit Cole took his first steps back toward the Bronx on Friday night at TD Bank Ballpark.
Some were shakier than others, but it was a mostly successful return for the 35-year-old right-hander.
In his first regular-season outing in 568 days, the Yankees ace worked through a few tense moments in his second inning in front of a sellout crowd of 7,115 during Somerset’s game against Reading.
“It was a nice night, and it was fun to get back out there in game situations,” Cole said. “A little extra adrenaline, crowd and whatnot. I threw a lot of strikes, and the long wait after the first was the first time I’d done that. I didn’t come out quite so sharp that inning, so that was a good challenge. That was really the only time my command was a little shaky.”
Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole during his rehab start for the Somerset Patriots at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater on April 17, 2026.
Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole during his rehab start for the Somerset Patriots at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater on April 17, 2026.
An RBI double by Dylan Campbell on a two-out, two-strike slider, followed by a two-run homer from Bryson Ware, accounted for the only blemishes in an outing in which Cole went 4⅓ innings, allowing three runs on three hits and a walk while striking out three.
It marked the first of several rehab starts for Cole, who reported no issues after his first official appearance on the mound since Game 5 of the 2024 World Series. He said he was unsure where his next rehab outing would take place.
Cole threw 44 pitches Friday — 36 for strikes — beginning what is expected to be a three- or four-start minor league route back to the pinstripes.
Cole mostly sat between 92 and 96 mph with his fastball and maintained that velocity throughout, touching 96 on the final batter he faced.
Q&A
What was Gerrit Cole's performance in his first rehab start after Tommy John surgery?
Gerrit Cole faced some tense moments but overall had a mostly successful outing, throwing a lot of strikes despite some shakiness in his second inning.
How long has it been since Gerrit Cole's last regular-season outing?
It has been 568 days since Gerrit Cole's last regular-season outing.
Where did Gerrit Cole make his rehab start?
Gerrit Cole made his rehab start at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater.
What did Gerrit Cole say about his return to the mound?
Gerrit Cole expressed that it was fun to be back in game situations and noted the adrenaline from the crowd during his outing.
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“It was pretty good today,” he said. “It’s hard to replicate the adrenaline of the big leagues, or even when we went to Arizona and the Cubs threw their real lineup out there — that kind of ticks it up. It came out a little low after the long wait, which was expected, but it crept back up and stabilized. I didn’t feel like I needed to add any more today. The offspeed was thrown with the same intent.”
Cole first experienced discomfort in his right elbow during spring training last year and ultimately underwent Tommy John surgery, forcing him to miss the entire 2025 season.
He made two spring appearances on March 18 and March 24, allowing one run on three hits over 2⅔ innings while striking out three.
A year earlier, Cole dealt with elbow inflammation during camp that led to two rehab starts with Somerset in June against the Hartford Yard Goats. He allowed just one run in eight innings, striking out nine, before returning to the Yankees later that month.
Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole during his rehab start for the Somerset Patriots at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater on April 17, 2026.
Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole during his rehab start for the Somerset Patriots at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater on April 17, 2026.
Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole during his rehab start for the Somerset Patriots at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater on April 17, 2026.
Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole during his rehab start for the Somerset Patriots at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater on April 17, 2026.
Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole during his rehab start for the Somerset Patriots at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater on April 17, 2026.
Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole during his rehab start for the Somerset Patriots at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater on April 17, 2026.
Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole during his rehab start for the Somerset Patriots at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater on April 17, 2026.
Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole during his rehab start for the Somerset Patriots at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater on April 17, 2026.
Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole during his rehab start for the Somerset Patriots at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater on April 17, 2026.
Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole during his rehab start for the Somerset Patriots at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater on April 17, 2026.
Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole during his rehab start for the Somerset Patriots at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater on April 17, 2026.
Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole during his rehab start for the Somerset Patriots at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater on April 17, 2026.
Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole during his rehab start for the Somerset Patriots at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater on April 17, 2026.
Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole during his rehab start for the Somerset Patriots at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater on April 17, 2026.
Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole during his rehab start for the Somerset Patriots at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater on April 17, 2026.
Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole during his rehab start for the Somerset Patriots at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater on April 17, 2026.
Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole during his rehab start for the Somerset Patriots at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater on April 17, 2026.
Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole during his rehab start for the Somerset Patriots at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater on April 17, 2026.
Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole during his rehab start for the Somerset Patriots at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater on April 17, 2026.
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Photos show Gerrit Cole’s Yankees rehab start with Somerset
Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole during his rehab start for the Somerset Patriots at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater on April 17, 2026.
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Photos show Gerrit Cole’s Yankees rehab start with Somerset
Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole during his rehab start for the Somerset Patriots at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater on April 17, 2026.
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Photos show Gerrit Cole’s Yankees rehab start with Somerset
Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole during his rehab start for the Somerset Patriots at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater on April 17, 2026.
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Photos show Gerrit Cole’s Yankees rehab start with Somerset
Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole during his rehab start for the Somerset Patriots at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater on April 17, 2026.
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Photos show Gerrit Cole’s Yankees rehab start with Somerset
Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole during his rehab start for the Somerset Patriots at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater on April 17, 2026.
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Photos show Gerrit Cole’s Yankees rehab start with Somerset
Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole during his rehab start for the Somerset Patriots at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater on April 17, 2026.
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Photos show Gerrit Cole’s Yankees rehab start with Somerset
Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole during his rehab start for the Somerset Patriots at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater on April 17, 2026.
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Photos show Gerrit Cole’s Yankees rehab start with Somerset
Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole during his rehab start for the Somerset Patriots at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater on April 17, 2026.
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Photos show Gerrit Cole’s Yankees rehab start with Somerset
Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole during his rehab start for the Somerset Patriots at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater on April 17, 2026.
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Photos show Gerrit Cole’s Yankees rehab start with Somerset
Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole during his rehab start for the Somerset Patriots at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater on April 17, 2026.
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Photos show Gerrit Cole’s Yankees rehab start with Somerset
Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole during his rehab start for the Somerset Patriots at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater on April 17, 2026.
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Photos show Gerrit Cole’s Yankees rehab start with Somerset
Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole during his rehab start for the Somerset Patriots at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater on April 17, 2026.
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Photos show Gerrit Cole’s Yankees rehab start with Somerset
Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole during his rehab start for the Somerset Patriots at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater on April 17, 2026.
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Photos show Gerrit Cole’s Yankees rehab start with Somerset
Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole during his rehab start for the Somerset Patriots at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater on April 17, 2026.
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Photos show Gerrit Cole’s Yankees rehab start with Somerset
Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole during his rehab start for the Somerset Patriots at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater on April 17, 2026.
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Photos show Gerrit Cole’s Yankees rehab start with Somerset
Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole during his rehab start for the Somerset Patriots at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater on April 17, 2026.
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Photos show Gerrit Cole’s Yankees rehab start with Somerset
Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole during his rehab start for the Somerset Patriots at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater on April 17, 2026.
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Photos show Gerrit Cole’s Yankees rehab start with Somerset
Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole during his rehab start for the Somerset Patriots at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater on April 17, 2026.
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Photos show Gerrit Cole’s Yankees rehab start with Somerset
Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole during his rehab start for the Somerset Patriots at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater on April 17, 2026.
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Photos show Gerrit Cole’s Yankees rehab start with Somerset
Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole during his rehab start for the Somerset Patriots at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater on April 17, 2026.
Volpe went hitless in his first four at-bats with the Patriots before lining a hard-hit single in his final plate appearance in Thursday night’s 9-8 win over Reading.
“His timeline and recovery were a lot longer than mine, but I saw every step of it,” Volpe said pregame Friday in Somerset. “I know how hard he worked. Unfortunately, I can relate, but he helped me a lot. To see it all come together, the road back — my first game was huge for me. You don’t realize how exciting it is until you’re in it.”
Yankees manager Aaron Boone, speaking with reporters in the Bronx before Friday’s game, was asked about the impact of getting Cole and Carlos Rodón back later this season.
Rodón rehabbed with Somerset in 2023 and was tentatively expected to throw a live batting practice session in Bridgewater on Saturday before beginning another minor league assignment.
“We’re obviously very excited to get those guys back,” Boone said. “We know how good they are and what they’re capable of. But it’s a process. It’s still a little ways off, so the biggest thing right now is checking boxes, getting them built up properly and healthy. Hopefully, when they rejoin the rotation, we get the impact we expect.”