Yankees See Powerful Sign as Gerrit Cole’s Fastball Touches 97 in Key Comeback Test
TAMPA— The Yankees’ most significant morning moment wasn’t a Grapefruit League game. Not in front of supporters. The box score, scoreboard pressure, and crowded stands were absent. Instead, it happened quietly at Steinbrenner Field, where one radar gun number gave the team hope that its ace was returning.
The speed was 96.9 mph.
Gerrit Cole faced live hitters in a controlled atmosphere that seemed more serious than a workout for the first time since Tommy John surgery in March. The Yankees anticipated this recovery milestone. Rehabilitation and flat-ground throwing are required, but this was different. Cole’s fastball against major league batters was a challenge.
Team leader Aaron Judge was in the batter’s box. Matchup had an internal measuring stick. If Cole could defeat Judge in a short fight, it would indicate the health of his surgically repaired elbow.
It was hard to ignore the outcomes. Cole reached over 97 mph in eight pitches. Judge only hit one line drive single to the opposite field. More significantly, Cole led. He worked the strike zone boundaries and found pitches in many quadrants, showing that his pitching feel has not lost throughout his recuperation.
Judge remarked Cole’s stuff still looks electrifying and the outing was impressive. Those statements resonated with a squad that has tracked the right-hander’s rehab for months.
While a travel-heavy roster flew to Sarasota for the Grapefruit League opener against Baltimore, many Yankees veterans stayed in Tampa. They knew the truth. Carlos Rodon admitted that Cole’s throws were more exciting than the state exhibition game.
Left-hander Max Fried also pitched that morning, throwing a quick fastball and good off-speed throws. Cole was the focus of attention. He pitched 18 pitches in one inning. Cole finished his work in one stretch, unlike Fried, who simulated many innings with pauses, reflecting the organization’s cautious approach to his rehabilitation.
Velocity doesn’t ensure long-term success, the Yankees know. The hours and days after this outing will be the ultimate test. Soreness is normal for pitchers. Pain, especially in the first year after Tommy John surgery, is substantial. Manager Aaron Boone did not set a date for Cole’s next live session, waiting for medical tests and pitching coach Matt Blake’s opinion.
Restraint shows the club’s strategy. The Yankees are upbeat but not hurrying. They know reconstructive elbow surgery recovery takes time and patience.
But Friday’s performance gave the Yankees what they wanted: proof. Radar gun readings showed strength returning. Sharp leadership conveyed confidence. After Cole finished, teammates gathered around him, showing how much he matters.
Judge stated that the squad regards Cole’s comeback as crucial. The Yankees think they are not re-signing the same players. A Cy Young Award winner is expected at the top of the rotation. Cole, Fried, and a healthy Rodon change the pitching staff’s outlook.
The organization avoids declaring Cole “out of the woods.” Recovery rarely goes linear. Each outing and bodily response must be assessed. If no setbacks occur, his return to regular-season action is likely in early June.
It wasn’t about statistics or headlines at Steinbrenner Field yet. About reassurance. A almost 97-mph fastball against a top hitter indicates Cole’s arm strength is returning. The Yankees are cautious but optimistic.
One pitch presented a compelling story in a quiet stadium with no people. The Yankees may not say it, but their ace is getting closer to pitching every fifth day and leading the rotation.
Sources
New York Yankees organization statements and player comments from Steinbrenner Field workout session in Tampa, Florida.
