Yankees: Gerrit Cole faces hitters as yankees mark comeback milestone
Gerrit Cole threw live batting-practice pitches at 11 a. m. ET Friday, reaching a top speed of 96. 9 mph in his first session against hitters since undergoing Tommy John elbow surgery. The on-field appearance is a clear procedural milestone in a rehab program that the team says should make him available sometime between May and September.
Yankees session: yankees hitters and results
The one-inning workout was targeted for roughly 20 pitches. Cole faced Trent Grisham, Aaron Judge and Jasson Domínguez at the spring training site, with the centerfield video board showing a velocity range from 95. 2 mph to a 96. 9 mph peak. Outcomes on the day included a strikeout by Grisham, a foul-heavy plate appearance by Judge followed by a ground ball to the right side of the infield, and a line drive to right-center by Domínguez.
Velocity, mechanics and coaching reaction
The right-hander’s live fastball readings and reported command prompted positive reactions from team staff. He reached 96. 9 mph in the live session after throwing his first bullpen about a week earlier. The 35-year-old has modified his delivery, bringing his hands over his head in the windup rather than stopping at his chest. Manager Aaron Boone described the outing as sounding "really good, " and the pitching coach characterized the work as delivering crisp lines and good zone control.
Recovery timeline and what comes next
New York projects Cole to be ready at some point between May and September, matching a 14-to-18-month recovery window that the 2023 AL Cy Young Award winner had outlined as his target. Cole’s last official outing before surgery came in Game 5 of the 2024 World Series on Oct. 30. He appeared in two spring training games in 2025, the last on March 6, and had surgery five days after that appearance.
- Fastball peak in live session: 96. 9 mph (video board reading)
- Planned pitch volume in workout: about 20 batting-practice pitches
- Recovery window cited by the team: May–September (14–18 months)
Friday’s live work was attended by a small group in the stands, including family members seated near the on-deck circle. Cole departed the clubhouse before it opened to the media after the session.
For now, the observable indicators are straightforward: sustained high-90s velocity on tracked readings, a short, controlled pitch count in live batting practice, and an adjusted windup. If those elements continue to progress on the current timeline, the team’s May-to-September availability range for Cole remains the operational benchmark. Any changes to that window would be tied to subsequent bullpen and live-game workloads, which will be the next clear checkpoints in his return to game action.
