NEW YORK — At one point Friday, Gerrit Cole wasn’t exactly sure when, but everything felt familiar again. The rubber. The mound. The loud Yankee Stadium crowd and how it felt to be fighting an unseasonably cool night in the Bronx, raising his hand to his mouth for warmth while also layered in sweat.“It was almost like I never left,” he said.Cole definitely didn’t look like someone who hadn’t pitched in 569 days, throwing six scoreless innings in a season debut that was soured only by the final score — a disappointing 4-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays.The Yankees were hoping and praying that the 35-year-old would look something like the ace he was before Tommy John surgery sidelined him for last season and the first month-plus of this year.He did.“He was on point,” manager Aaron Boone said.“The way he went out there and was just able to have his presence out there,” catcher Austin Wells said.
Oh, how we've missed this: pic.twitter.com/35Zf413WEp
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) May 22, 2026Cole gave up more walks (3) than hits (2) and struck out just two in his first real game action since Game 5 of the 2024 World Series. But none of it was alarming against the division-leading Rays, who boast a high-contact, aggressive lineup. His fastball touched 98.6 mph. He admitted that his command was a little bit off, something common for those in the early stages of their returns from Tommy John surgery. One of the walks Cole issued was on four pitches, and another was on five.Still, Cole did just about everything the Yankees could have wanted — including seemingly tapping out after 72 pitches, sure that he had done enough this night despite having thrown 86 pitches in his final minor-league rehab start. Cole’s final pitch was a 97.8 mph heater that Yandy Díaz lifted for a flyout.Cole needed just four pitches to get through the fourth inning and seven in the third inning. But he put the first two batters he faced in the game on base via single and walk before picking off Chandler Simpson, widely considered the fastest player in the sport, at second base.“I think it was just all that went into tonight,” Boone said about Cole leaving with a low pitch count. “He was done.”“I think that was the smart play,” Cole said. “It may seem easy, but it was a high-pressure, tough game. I had one quick inning, and we made some great defensive plays that led to some of that efficiency. Overall, it was good work for what we had out there.”Cole said he felt “pretty close” to feeling like his old self. That would be nice to see for the Yankees, who remember his 2023 American League Cy Young Award win all too well. He said he probably could have worked outside of the strike zone a bit more Friday rather than nibbling the edges. He liked that he kept pressure on hitters. He felt good about recognizing the pitches that were working for him and leaning on them, in particular his four-seamer.“I’m happy with the zero (runs allowed),” he said. “I’m happy with the six innings. Overall, I think the strike percentage (was) good.”The Yankees badly want to pair Cole with phenom starting pitcher Cam Schlittler, and ahead of Will Warren and Ryan Weathers, who have been very good. They hope Carlos Rodón continues his progress, having made just three starts since returning from offseason elbow surgery. They have been pleased with rookie Elmer Rodríguez, and they’re optimistic that Max Fried (left elbow bone bruise) will return sometime in the summer.The Yankees already had a strong rotation. Cole giving them what he did couldn’t have been more encouraging.And Cole seeing it for himself was reassuring. He said it felt almost like a “second debut,” considering the lengthy layoff. Cole reached the majors for the first time in 2013 when he was a top prospect for the Pittsburgh Pirates.Of course, it wasn’t all good. The Yankees fumbled away a 1-0 lead in the eighth inning, giving up four runs. José Caballero booted a grounder, and then reliever Tim Hill gave up three hits and an intentional walk before a sacrifice fly off Camilo Doval. And though Jazz Chisholm Jr.’s triple in the eighth scored Cody Bellinger and sliced Tampa Bay’s lead to two runs, Aaron Judge’s cold streak continued in the ninth when he flied out to deep center field to end the game with a runner on second. He went 0-for-4 with a walk and hasn’t had an RBI in 11 games — a career-worst stretch.But, more than anything, a healthy and effective Cole needed to be what the Yankees got Friday night. They received just that.“It was an enjoyable moment,” he said. “It was nice to get back in the fire.”And nice for the Yankees to know they’re able to lean on him again.
