Yankees' Gerrit Cole cruises in first rehab start at Double-A - ESPN

BRIDGEWATER, N.J. — Gerrit Cole did not have any trouble finding adrenaline in his first minor league appearance in eight years Tuesday night.

It was coursing through the New York Yankees ace as he made his first rehab appearance since being sidelined with nerve irritation and edema in his right elbow in mid-March, starting for the Double-A Somerset Patriots in front of a standing room only crowd.

Cole channeled that energy into an encouraging return to game action, holding the Hartford Yard Goats scoreless over 3⅓ innings. The right-hander allowed just two singles, didn't surrender a walk and faced one batter over the minimum. He threw 45 pitches, 34 for strikes, on a night he was slated to toss 40 to 50.

Asked if there was anything he didn't like about the outing, Cole's answer was simple: «No.»

The reigning American League Cy Young Award winner said he was happy with «really everything» about the outing. He threw his entire repertoire for strikes. His fastball sat between 94 and 97 mph. He bemoaned leaving soft two breaking pitches over the plate, but that was about it a month to the day after he first threw off the mound following the injury.

Cole is expected to make another start for Somerset on Sunday. After that, he isn't sure.

«Definitely close,» Cole said of coming off the injured list to pitch for the Yankees. «I'm not sure how many more we need, but definitely closer rather than farther away. It should be right around the corner here. „

With his appearance, Cole, 33, became the highest-profile player to play for Somerset in the team's short history as the Yankees' Double-A affiliate, which began in 2021.

The atmosphere reflected the moment for this minor league baseball outpost in central Jersey. The team