Yankees’ Gerrit Cole to begin rehab assignment Friday

(Chris Graythen/Getty Images North America/TNS)

NEW YORK — Gerrit Cole is ready for real games.

The Yankees’ right-hander will begin a rehab assignment with the Double-A Somerset Patriots on Friday. It will be his most significant step yet in his recovery from Tommy John surgery.

On Thursday, Yankees manager Aaron Boone said the plan is for Cole’s pitch count to be in the mid-40s. The manager added that Cole will build up to a “higher threshold” during his rehab assignment. Once he’s back in the majors, the Yankees will “probably be conservative with him,” Boone said.

Cole is 13 months removed from a procedure that knocked him out for the entire 2025 season. His rehab process, which has included a lengthy buildup, a de-load period and another buildup, has gone according to plan thus far.

The 35-year-old most recently threw 42 pitches over three innings during a simulated game in Hudson Valley on Sunday, as well as a bullpen session at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday.

Cole will need several rehab starts, though his status on the 15-day injured list — opposed to the 60-day — means he could return before the end of May. He and the Yankees have always considered a late-May or early-June return to be the best-case scenario.

The start of Cole’s rehab assignment coincides with Luis Gil looking like a rather weak link in the Yankees’ rotation. The righty struggled again on Wednesday night, allowing four earned runs and three homers over five innings before the Yankees were able to walk off the Angels.

If all others stay healthy in the Yankees’ rotation, Gil will be an easy choice for the odd man out once Cole or Carlos Rodón come off the IL.

Rodón, recovering from an offseason elbow cleanup procedure and set back by some hamstring tightness, is scheduled to throw live batting practice at Somerset on Saturday. Boone said if that goes well, the lefty will likely graduate to a rehab assignment.

The skipper said Rodón will make “at least” three rehab starts.