When Gerrit Cole posted a short video of himself throwing from a mound on Saturday, it wasn’t just another rehab update — it was a sign of life for a New York Yankees rotation that has been waiting for its ace to reappear. For a team built on star power and expectations, seeing Cole back in action, even in a controlled bullpen session, felt like the first real glimpse of what’s coming in 2026.

A Long Road Back

Cole underwent Tommy John surgery in March, and the Yankees have already made it clear they aren’t banking on him for Opening Day. But that doesn’t mean his return is far off.

In fact, the plan has always been for the reigning ace to rejoin the team sometime in the first half of the 2026 season — possibly as early as May or even late April, if all goes smoothly.

The mound session

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