TAMPA, Fla. – Cam Schlittler and Carlos Rodón were mid-conversation with a couple of visitors early on Wednesday morning when Gerrit Cole approached, his game face already applied as he changed into a hooded sweatshirt and shorts.
“Hey Gerrit. You excited?” Schlittler said. “Big day.”
There was no audible response. Returning to game action 372 days after undergoing Tommy John surgery on his right elbow, Cole’s focus was on the mound for an eventful – and scoreless – first inning during the Yankees' 1-0 win over the Red Sox at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
“I had a lot of fun out there. It was very enjoyable,” Cole said. “I just wanted to enjoy all of it. That was my goal for today; no reservations, try not to judge yourself too hard and just have fun. Just go ahead and let it fly.”
With Cole carrying an old-school, hands-over-head windup into Grapefruit League action for the first time, Boston’s Braiden Ward tested the 2023 American League Cy Young Award winner on his first pitch, bunting for a hit down the first-base line.
It was a bit of flair from Ward, who last week channeled Rickey Henderson with an on-field celebration after setting a Spring Training stolen base record, but a rude welcome as Cole took on his first lineup since Game 5 of the 2024 World Series against the Dodgers.
“It surprised me, but it was a good challenge,” said Cole, who joked that because of Wednesday’s start, he missed pitchers’ fielding practice for the first time this spring. “I ended up getting my work in, so it was all good.”
Said catcher Austin Wells: “I’m sure he scared everyone in the whole stadium when he went sliding on the first pitch he’s thrown since being back, but I loved the effort.”
Ward stole second base, his 19th steal of the spring, but Cole retired Kristian Campbell on a flyout to left field and Austin Wells threw out Ward attempting to steal third. Jason Delay singled to left field, but Cole completed the inning by getting Nathan Hickey to ground out, a play on which Cole covered first base.
Not including additional tosses in the bullpen, the outing lasted 10 pitches (seven strikes) – a nice reward after months of grueling rehab. Cole’s six fastballs averaged 97.1 mph, maxing out at 98.7 mph. He also flashed his knuckle curve and slider, saying he felt “a little rusty.” He’ll look to build sharpness in his next outing, with that setting yet to be determined.
“I thought he looked good,” manager Aaron Boone said. “He looked strong, poised; almost made a really good play right out of the chute that you kind of hold your breath on, but he got right into the mix.
“All of a sudden, you’ve got a fast runner, you’ve got to control the running game and you’re trying to make pitches for the first time in that setting. I thought he handled it well.”
The Yankees have said they anticipate Cole returning to the Majors in late May or early June. Asked if it could be realistic to accelerate that, Cole replied: “Nothing has changed. It’s still on track.”
Boone said having Cole pitch in a Grapefruit League game, rather than continue in simulated settings, was a challenge he seemed prepared for.
“We didn’t have to do it,” Boone said. “He was ready to do it, and I think it’s valuable. Getting into a Spring Training game in front of 10,000 people, it’s a real game to some degree with less controllables; I think that’s all a good part of a process.
“You still want to get those feelings and those shots of different levels of adrenaline as you’re working your way back.”
Cole said he will not accompany the team on the season-opening trip to San Francisco and Seattle, but he is planning to be at the Yankee Stadium home opener on April 3.
After that, there will be Minor League rehab starts in Tampa and elsewhere, all eventually leading back to where Cole was on Wednesday – pitching from a mound with his Yankees teammates behind him.
“It was a bit of a special day for me, getting out to compete again and feel the support from the crowd,” Cole said. “That feels good.”