Gerrit Cole looked like Gerrit Cole again, and the New York Yankees finally have proof their ace is coming back with real velocity, a buzzing clubhouse, and early rehab footage that says everything fans needed to hear. The New York Yankees haven’t had their ace on a big-league mound since the 2024 World Series, and after Cole missed the entire 2025 season following Tommy John surgery, what he showed in his first live BP at camp has the New York Yankees breathing easy for the first time in a year.
ESPN’s Buster Olney and Tim Kurkjian discussed Cole’s progress on their latest podcast, and Olney didn’t mince words.
“[Cole] throwing in the Yankees camp on Saturday was clocked at 96.9 miles per hour,” Olney said. “He’s coming back from Tommy John surgery. They have said quietly that they’re really optimistic about where he is, and he backed that up with how he looked on the mound the other day.”
That 96.9-mph reading came during Cole’s first session facing hitters since his elbow surgery last March. The 35-year-old threw about 20 pitches of batting practice, facing Trent Grisham, Aaron Judge, and Jasson Domínguez.
New York Yankees Spring Training 2026: Gerrit Cole’s Velocity is the Story
Kurkjian went a step further, projecting what Cole’s early arm strength could mean for the Yankees’ rotation.
“Their starting pitching has a chance to be really good, and it’s typical Cole to surprise us with how physically apt he is at everything,” Kurkjian said. “Come back this quickly and be throwing this hard. Give him a couple months, but if he shows up on June 1st, throwing 98 miles an hour, what a boost that would be for what’s already a pretty good rotation.”
Cole’s last official game came in Game 5 of the 2024 World Series on October 30. He made two spring training appearances in 2025 before surgery five days later. The 2023 AL Cy Young winner has said his target return window is 14 to 18 months, and Yankees officials have reiterated they expect him back in June.
Cole also debuted a new wrinkle — he’s now bringing his hands over his head during his windup, a change from the chest-high set he used before surgery.
What This Means for New York Yankees in 2026
The New York Yankees won 94 games in 2025 without Cole and were bounced by the Blue Jays in the ALDS. Getting their ace back, throwing 97 before March even arrives, changes the math entirely. The Yankees aren’t just waiting on Cole, either — Carlos Rodón is still building back his own velocity, and Clarke Schmidt is recovering from his own Tommy John procedure and will miss a large chunk of the season.
That’s part of why the Yankees traded for Ryan Weathers from Miami, a young former first-round pick who already touched 98.5 mph in his first live session this spring. Weathers is expected to eat innings early while Cole ramps up.
If Cole’s fastball really is this alive in February, the second half of 2026 could look very different for this roster. The Bronx needed to see their ace still had it — and Gerrit Cole just showed them.
Upcoming Yankees Spring Training Schedule
Here’s the upcoming New York Yankees spring training schedule:
| Date | Opponent | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Mon, Feb 23 | @ Pittsburgh Pirates | 1:05 PM |
| Tue, Feb 24 | @ Toronto Blue Jays | 1:07 PM |
| Wed, Feb 25 | vs Washington Nationals | 6:35 PM |
| Thu, Feb 26 | vs Atlanta Braves | 1:05 PM |
| Fri, Feb 27 | @ Minnesota Twins | 1:05 PM |
| Sat, Feb 28 | vs Toronto Blue Jays | 1:05 PM |
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