Gerrit Cole Throws First Pitch After Tommy John Surgery

New York Yankees ace Gerrit Cole made a significant step in his recovery from Tommy John surgery, throwing 20 pitches on flat ground at Yankee Stadium. The reigning AL Cy Young winner, who underwent surgery on March 11, had this to say about his session:

“Today I felt very good. I’ve been quite precise and I had a good time. It’s a great day, the first day of throwing. I’ve been preparing for this for a few weeks, so it’s okay to go outside and do it well.”

Cole, 34, is targeting a return to the mound in mid-May 2026, estimating a recovery period of 14 months. His next goal is to throw from a mound, which he hopes to accomplish before the end of the year.

Aaron Judge Still Not in the Field

Manager Aaron Boone confirmed that Aaron Judge won’t play the field during the Twins series while he continues to treat an elbow issue. The Yankees captain could return to defense in the near future but remains limited to DH duties for now.

Yankees Injury Updates: Bullpen Returns and More

• Fernando Cruz: After missing time with a high-grade oblique strain, Cruz will begin a rehab mission on Thursday with Double-A Somerset. The reliever aims to return to the Yankees’ bullpen soon.
• Ryan Yarbrough: The left-hander will begin a rehab mission on Thursday, likely with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Yankees manager Aaron Boone noted that the team will determine whether to stretch him out as a starter or bring him back as a long reliever.
• Jonathan Loaisiga: Right-hander Jonathan Loaisiga has been throwing without pain and will hold a bullpen session by the end of the week. He hopes to return in about 10 days but could be stretched out if the Yankees choose to send him on a brief rehab mission.
• Clarke Schmidt: The right-hander underwent Tommy John surgery on July 11 and is expected to face a long recovery, with doctors inserting an internal brace instead of making a full reconstruction.
• Jake Odorizzi: The reliever, who underwent Tommy John surgery on June 19, remains on the 60-day injured list and is expected to begin a throwing program by the end of October or early November.
• Amed Rosario: Utility infielder Amed Rosario was placed on the 10-day injured list on August 9 with a sprained left AC joint but hopes to return when first eligible on August 19.
• Austin Slater: Outfielder Austin Slater, acquired from the Chicago Cubs ahead of the trade deadline, is expected to miss 4-6 weeks with a left hamstring strain and could return in early or mid-September.
• Oswaldo Cabrera: utility infielder Oswaldo Cabrera remains on the 60-day injured list after fracturing his left ankle in May and is expected to return in 2026.

Yankees Dominate Twins

The Yankees’ 6-2 victory over the Twins on Monday extended their dominance over Minnesota. Since 2002, New York has a 107-42 record against the Twins in the regular season, their best record against any team in the AL during that span. Including postseason games, the Yankees have a 123-44 record against the Twins and have won seven consecutive games.