Yankees expecting 'CY Young Gerrit Cole' in long-awaited season debut
New York Post • • general
Key Points:
- Gerrit Cole is set to make his season debut on Friday night at Yankee Stadium against the Tampa Bay Rays, marking his first big league start in nearly 19 months following Tommy John surgery.
- The Rays, leading the AL East and having recently swept the Yankees, present a challenging opponent, making Cole's return a high-stakes matchup.
- Yankees manager Aaron Boone expressed confidence in Cole's rehab process and readiness, though acknowledged some adjustment may be needed after the long layoff.
- Cole has been actively preparing, including pitcher fielding practice, to handle the Rays' speed and contact-heavy offense, with a likely pitch count around 86 for his return start.
- Teammates view Cole's return as a significant boost to the Yankees' pitching rotation, especially following the loss of Max Fried, with hopes that a healthy staff could lead the league.