Yankees’ Gerrit Cole to Make 2024 MLB Season Debut vs. Orioles After Injury Rehab

Timothy Rapp@@TRappaRTFeatured Columnist IVJune 17, 2024

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New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone confirmed to reporters on Monday that star pitcher Gerrit Cole would make his season debut on Wednesday night against the Baltimore Orioles.

He’s yet to appear in a game for the Yankees this season as he recovers from the nerve inflammation and edema he was diagnosed with in March.

After Cole struck out 10 batters in 4.1 innings on Friday in his third rehab start, giving up just two hits and an unearned run, his return to New York’s rotation felt imminent.

“I’m very much wanting to get back very soon,” Cole told reporters after that start. “What a fun club they are right now. That’s part of the reason why I’m trying to make sure I’m in a good spot to help them.”

The Yankees, shockingly, have been just fine without him, registering an MLB-best 50-24 record.

“These guys have played outstanding baseball to start the season,” Boone told reporters. “But we know that’s all it is—it’s the start to the season. We’ve got a long way to go.”

A lineup featuring Juan Soto and Aaron Judge was always expected to hit. But the most surprising factor has been the elite starting rotation, as Nestor Cortés Jr., Carlos Rodón, Marcus Stroman, Luis Gil and Clarke Schmidt have all been fantastic.

With Schmidt on the 15-day injured list due to a right lat strain, however, Cole’s return couldn’t come at a better time.

And he seemed more than ready to make his return over the weekend.

“I want to look at the computer, too, it usually takes a day to process all the numbers and stuff, so I think probably a conversation will happen when we get that information,” Cole told reporters Saturday when asked if he felt like his next start would be at the MLB level. “My eyes said it was pretty good. I’m assuming it was really good.”