Gerrit Cole (Image Credit: Imagn)

Gerrit Cole Shares Latest Injury Progress For Upcoming Season

Originally posted on Total Pro Sports
By Paranjoy Goswami | Last updated Feb 27, 2026 3:17 AM ET

Last year, Gerrit Cole missed the entire 2025 campaign after going down with an elbow injury in spring training. He will most probably miss the opening months of the 2026 season to make a full recovery from Tommy John surgery. Nevertheless, Cole is working on his return to the MLB mound at the Yankees’ spring training camp in Tampa, Florida.

Gerrit Cole stated that this rehab is progressing quite well. The New York Yankees ace has reached every target on his program thus far. Although he is pleased with the results, Cole says he is still working on the consistency of his pitches. The 35-year-old reportedly hit 97 mph on the gun when he faced the top hitters in the Yankees lineup during live BP.

“I would say it’s gone very well. We’ve hit every marker that we’ve tried to hit. We’re in the parameters of what we’re looking for,” Gerrit Cole told MLB Network earlier this week.“Level of execution has been high, especially the last start—doesn’t always happen like that.

Gerrit Cole on his rehab from Tommy John surgery and getting ready for the season:

“I would say it's gone very well. We've hit every marker that we've tried to hit. We're in the parameters of what we're looking for…” pic.twitter.com/Ee65V4CHKi
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) February 27, 2026

“I hadn’t gotten anywhere close to that in my bullpens,” he added on reaching 97 mph with his fastball. “When the big dogs are in the box, you want to do everything to prevent the ball from coming back at your face. The adrenaline kind of raised it a little bit.”

Gerrit Cole produced an utterly dominant 2023 campaign to take the American League Cy Young by unanimous decision. However, he missed nearly the first three months of the following season but helped the Yankees reach the World Series in the postseason.

Gerrit Cole Adds New Element To His Pitching Style

Gerrit Cole (Image Credits: Imagn)

In his interview with MLB Network, Gerrit revealed he incorporated a windup into his delivery motion during his absence from the New York Yankees clubhouse. Although he started it as a fun exercise, Gerrit Cole held on to it as he liked the results.

“I was goofing around one day trying to break the monotony last summer. It felt good. I liked the rhythm. And I just kind of stuck with it,” he said.

Gerrit Cole signing autographs at Yankees camp: pic.twitter.com/ARIu13viGr
— Bryan Hoch ⚾️ (@BryanHoch) February 26, 2026

The Yankees expect Gerrit Cole to return from the IL by the end of May. The six-time All-Star has three more years remaining on his contract with the team.

This article first appeared on Total Pro Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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