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Posted May 18, 2024 at 1:00 pm Eastern Time
Gerrit Cole is starting to feel the itch as he continues to increase his rehab workload.
The Yankees ace took his final step Saturday, throwing a 40-pitch bullpen session that was the equivalent of two innings after his first four sessions involved just one lead.
Cole threw 20 pitches, sat for a few minutes, then threw 20 more, with Oswaldo Cabrera and Jahmai Jones standing without swinging.
Assuming he recovers well from Saturday, Cole’s next step could be facing hitters in live batting practice for the first time since he was suspended in March for elbow nerve inflammation and edema.
“That’s certainly a possibility early next week,” Cole told the Post.
Gerrit Cole could soon face some real hitters. Robert Sabo for the NY Post
The reigning American League Cy Young winner didn’t want to get too ahead of himself (he still has a ways to go and more boxes to check before he can return in late June or early July), but his enthusiasm for his progress and how he’s been feeling physically was evident.
“Today was a really good day,” Cole said. “Today was very fun. I got a couple of substitutes. I was able to increase the (speed) a little bit.
After a session in which his fastball velocity stayed in the 90s and he made all of his pitches, Cole indicated that things were starting to feel more real as his workload increased.
“It’s starting to come,” he said.
Pitching coach Matt Blake said he can feel Cole starting to fight back.
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“I think it’s very important for him to check that box,” Blake said. “Each one gains confidence that the arm is recovering and the material is sharp. As far as where he is in the progression, I think we all feel pretty good about it.”
Blake said the next step would be to repeat the bullpen session with two players or face hitters, depending on how Cole recovers from Saturday.
Once Cole advances to live batting practice sessions, he would need a few before heading out on a rehab assignment.
“He’s probably a step ahead of where he was when he came to camp this year, which is encouraging,” Blake said. “Probably one level ahead of a typical spring training progression.”
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