The Yankees have gotten a few good reports about their injured starting pitchers, especially the ace Gerrit Cole. The 35-year-old missed 2025 while recovering from Tommy John surgery in March. Cole is scheduled to face the batters “in a couple of weeks,” manager Aaron Boone told reporters, including Greg Joyce of the New York Post. Boone added that Cole could be back in time for Spring Training.
Cole is less than a year removed from surgery, so Opening Day didn’t play him. The idea that he could show up in the spring game is encouraging and could put him in a position to miss the first month of the season. A 60-day IL remains an option, but if there’s even a small chance Cole returns within a few months, New York will likely avoid that route.
After winning the AL Cy Young in 2023, Cole missed the first half of 2024 with elbow inflammation. He returned in 17 games to close the season. Elbow concerns surfaced last year, and Cole ended up going under the knife. The veteran has three seasons remaining on the nine-year, $324MM deal he signed with the Yankees in 2019.
Carlos Rodon was seen playing catch with Cole in today’s spring practice. The left-hander had his elbow removed shortly after the end of the 2025 campaign. The expectation is that Rodon can return before the end of April. Boone told reporters that “it’s probably not too late for the start of the season.”
Rodon recently said he was back throwing eight weeks after his surgery, adding that his mobility has improved significantly following the procedure. The 33-year-old made a career-high 33 tackles this past season. He earned an All-Star bid and finished sixth in AL Cy Young voting, though a difficult postseason brought a sour end to his year. Rodon has hit nine home runs in his two playoff contests.
One negative revelation from Thursday was that of the right Cam Schlittler it controlled what was initially described as mid-back inflammation. The young righty took to social media to clarify that it is a matter of left lat. “It’s early, so I want to make sure I’m on top of you,” Shlittler told reporters, including Bryan Hoch of MLB.com.
Schlittler took the July callup and ran with the opportunity, posting a sub-3.00 ERA over his 14 major league starts. He received national attention in the postseason. Schlittler pitched eight scoreless innings in a win over Boston in the ALDS. He got off to a great start against Toronto in the ALCS, though New York lost the game (and the series).
On the hitting side, shortstop Anthony Volpe is scheduled to begin its progress before the end of February. The forward is recovering from surgery on a torn labrum. “You’re good,” Boone told reporters.The strength is there in the weight room and stuff like that. He’s got all that back. That’s what took a while. His range of moves is huge.”
Volpe underwent surgery in early October. Early reports said he would be out for four months. The team said Volpe will open the season in the IL. Jose Caballero expected to handle shortstop until Volpe is ready to return.
Photo courtesy of Kim Klement Neitzel and Brad Penner, Imagn Images
