New York Yankees ace right-hander Gerrit Cole threw for the first time since undergoing Tommy John surgery, making 20 tosses on flat ground on Monday afternoon.

Cole felt optimistic after the throws in the outfield at Yankee Stadium. The session came exactly five months after he had the surgery in which an internal brace also was inserted into his pitching arm.

"It's a big one, the first day throwing," Cole told reporters before New York's game against the Minnesota Twins. "I've been building up to it for a few weeks, so it's nice to get outside and get it accomplished and have it go well."

Cole injured his arm during a March 6 exhibition game against the Twins in which he was torched for six runs in 2 2/3 innings. He subsequently underwent tests that confirmed the need for Tommy John s

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