The New York Yankees are hoping Gerrit Cole will return to the MLB very soon, but his last rehab outing didn’t go very well.
Cole is rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, and he was pitching for the Hudson Valley Renegades in High-A on Tuesday. Despite pitching in High-A, Cole was shelled as he went 4.1 innings, allowing 5 runs on 7 hits, including two home runs.
Following the rough outing by Cole, MLB fans reacted to it, and many think he’s still a ways away from re-joining the Yankees.
“is this supposed to worry anybody? idk but to me seems like hes not looking great as compared to rodon,” a fan wrote.
“Is it just me or does he look like he’s out of shape? A little pudgy,” a fan added.
“I think we have to go into it thinking Cole not the same pitcher from 2 years ago man. Rn I’d be more confident in fried, cam and rodon,” a fan wrote.
“Yeah it might be time to dump that contract lol,” a fan added.
Yankees fans clearly believe Cole might not be the same pitcher as he used to be. But the hope is that Cole can continue to improve and make an impact on the rotation in a couple of weeks’ time.
“Cole looks out of shape and sloppy, very concerning…,” a fan wrote.
“He needs time. He’s got 4 starts after TJ. It’s not gonna happen right away, he’s figuring it out slowly,” a fan wrote.
“I mean he IS 35 coming off TJ surgery. It’s fair to say his best baseball is behind him,” a fan added.
“Are we allowed to worry now?,” a fan wrote.
Cole is in the seventh year of his nine-year, $324 million deal.
Yankees Give Cole Update
The Yankees’ rotation is without Carlos Rodon and Cole, who are both injured, and Rodon will be back much sooner.
New York manager Aaron Boone revealed that Rodon likely could start for the Yankees next time out after his start in the minors on Tuesday in Triple-A.
Cole, however, is still a bit away, as Boone revealed to reporters, according to The Athletic’s Chris Kirschner.
“Aaron Boone said Gerrit Cole is still a “little ways away” from making his season debut. Nothing has gone wrong, before you all freak out,” Kirschner wrote on X.
With the Yankees atop the AL East and off to a hot start, New York can be patient with Cole and his return to the big league rotation.
Cole Making Sure He’s Ready for MLB Return
With Cole returning from Tommy John surgery, he and the Yankees are being patient on his rehab.
After his rehab start last week, Cole said he’s making sure he’s dialling in on his process so he’s ready to return to the MLB.
“Even though it’s one start, it’s five days of process that you got to execute,” Cole said. “I’m confident I’m going to execute these things really, really well but the reality is, it’s been awhile since I’ve done them. It may seem like the same thing over and over again but that’s the point.”
Cole is a six-time MLB All-Star and won the AL Cy Young Award in 2023.
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