Yankees make it official: Gerrit Cole is coming to the rescue

NEW YORK —It would be an understatement to say the Yankees have missed Gerrit Cole since the end of 2024, so let’s cut to the core of the club’s announcement that their ace will be on the mound Friday against the Rays.

What version of Cole will the Yankees be getting now that his 14-month rehab from Tommy John surgery is complete?

Will he be a work in progress for the rest of the season, as is the case for many pitchers whose elbows have been reconstructed, or will Cole pick up where he left off at his Cy Young Award-winning level in 2023?

The fact that Cole was clocked at nearly 100-mph in his final rehab start at Class-AAA bodes well. The surging velocity couldn’t come at a better time, as the Yankees will face their toughest opponent, and greatest challenge, of the young season this weekend.

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The Rays aren’t just in first place in the East, they have the American League’s best record. They swept the Bombers in early April and haven’t looked back.

Cole understands the timing better than anyone. It was he, not the Yankees, who pushed up his activation date. The club originally planned to have Cole make one more minor league appearance this weekend before Cole approached manager Aaron Boone with an all-systems-go announcement.

“He said he was ready,” Boone said of the conversation that took place at the conclusion of the Subway Series at Citi Field.

Cole himself left no doubt about his eagerness to re-join the rotation sooner rather than later.

“I’m confident, I’m optimistic, but I definitely know there’s some work in front of us,” he told reporters Tuesday night at the Stadium. “It’s just the just the right time to take the next step.”

The Yankees have lost three straight series and are working without Max Fried, their de facto ace. The left-hander will be out for at least a month with a bone bruise in his left elbow.

The rotation has depended on Cam Schlittler for consistent dominance, and the 25-year-old righty has delivered. But there’s no one who can anchor the pitching staff like Cole.

His work ethic, mastery of the craft and insider’s knowledge of the game are legendary in the clubhouse. As much as Cole has missed pitching, he’s felt the separation from his teammates, too.

But all that changes starting this weekend. Cole will be rocking a new, over-the-head windup and a new elbow. Now we’ll see if the results match the enthusiasm. The Yankees’ fingers will be tightly crossed.

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