While the Yankees get ready to face the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday night, the reaction to Gerrit ColeDouble-A Somerset’s first rehab outing on Tuesday still dominates New York airspace.
Manager Aaron Boone was bombarded with questions about their ace — how did Cole do, what did Boone see and when can the Yankees expect the right-hander back in the lineup?
The captain, who has yet to speak to Cole since his first rehab start, said that while Tuesday’s departure was “another good step along the way,” he does not yet have a timetable for Cole’s return, adding that “The next few days will be important.”
“That’s something we’re going to continue to work on,” Boone said of Cole’s next steps in the rehabilitation process. “Obviously, Gerrit is going to invest a lot in this, and we will continue to take it day by day, but at least a few more [starts]. We’ll see if it’s, I don’t know how many – it’s two, it’s three – it’ll be whatever’s best and we’ll make that decision as we go along.”
When asked if Cole will pitch on Sunday what his next shift in the rotation would be, Boone still wasn’t sure, saying “I’d rather see him [first].”
Regardless of when the 33-year-old pitches again, Tuesday’s performance gave Boone and the organization confidence that he is on the right track and will pitch again in the Bronx at some point this season.
Cole finished his night going 3.1 innings, allowing two hits, no earned runs, no walks and striking out five on 45 pitches (34 strikes).
“I was able to watch most of his first two innings before we left for the game and I thought he looked really sharp,” Boone said. “Command looked good, things looked good, life to the heater.”
Boone also said he thinks Cole did a great job of controlling and harnessing that shot of adrenaline that comes with pitching in a professional game for the first time in a long time, something the right-hander does extremely well when healthy and “why [he is] who is he.”
When Cole finally returns to the Yankees’ starting rotation, he will join a team that has achieved an AL-best 2.73 ERA this season. Adding the reigning American League Cy Young Award winner into the mix almost seems unfair.
Of course, a decision will have to be made on where Cole can return and take his throne at the top of the rotation.
“It won’t be hard to fit it in, so I’m not worried about that,” Boone said. “We’ll get there when we get there.”
Because of New York’s good pitching this season — and that goes for the bullpen as well, which has a 2.88 ERA entering Wednesday — the Yankees could be extremely cautious about bringing Cole back into the fold if they want.
But no matter where the Yanks are in the standings or what circumstances they find themselves in, it won’t determine Cole’s schedule.
“It’s about Gerrit and making sure he’s in the best place to be the best version of himself when he returns. Obviously, we know the impact he can have, so I don’t think where we are is that important,” Boone said.
