The next step for Gerrit Cole: actual games that are expected to lead to his season debut.
The Yankees ace and likely future Hall of Famer will officially begin his comeback Friday with Double-A Somerset, manager Aaron Boone said after a 5-4 victory over the Angels in The Bronx on Wednesday.
Thirteen months after Tommy John surgery that wiped away Cole’s 2025 season, the 35-year-old will begin a rehab assignment that follows a lengthy buildup, de-load and another buildup process.
Most recently, Cole had thrown 42 pitches over three approximated innings during a simulated game in Hudson Valley on Sunday.
He came through feeling OK and happy enough with his stuff, which led to a side session Wednesday. After an apparent successful session, Cole earned the green light for the rehab assignment.
Friday will be just the first of several rehab starts, although it is curious that Cole is on the 15-day injured list rather than the 60-day injured list, which would have ensured he could not return before the end of May.
Carlos Rodón, who also is rehabbing from surgery, is expected to throw a live batting practice Saturday in Somerset, Boone said, but not yet begin his rehab assignment.
Perhaps two weeks of steps remain, but the first day and first step went smoothly for Anthony Volpe.
The Yankees shortstop got through five innings without incident Tuesday in the first game of a rehab assignment with Somerset, fielding one ball and striking out twice against a similar rehabbing Zack Wheeler in two at-bats.
“So much fun to be back out there,” Volpe said. “It’s a big milestone that I appreciated for what it was.”
Volpe spoke from The Bronx, where he was getting treatment with the Yankees and set to play with Somerset again Thursday, Friday and Sunday.
Next week, Volpe likely will move up one level with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre playing at home.
He is expected to make three straight starts at some point with SWB, and the Yankees then will evaluate whether he is ready for a job that José Caballero, even with his recent heroics, has not seized.
A season debut late this month or in early May is within reach for Volpe after offseason surgery that repaired a labrum tear in his left shoulder.
Along with logging at-bats, Volpe wants to make sure he dives and runs the bases during his rehab stint and ensure his shoulder — which was hurting nearly all of last season, Volpe playing through the discomfort that may have contributed to an underwhelming campaign offensively and defensively — handles everything well.
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When he dives or asks for more from his shoulder, Volpe said, “I’m not thinking about it.
“But after the fact, when you do something and then you think back to how it felt [last year], it just feels like normal.”
For a second time this season, Boone shook up the top of his order.
Aaron Judge, normally the No. 2 hitter, moved back to No. 3, while Ben Rice rose to hit second.
Judge responded by launching another homer in the first inning — three of his seven this season have come in the initial inning — while Rice went 0-for-4.
All uniformed personnel wore No. 42 in honor of Jackie Robinson Day.
“Just proud to be a part of this,” Boone said.
