Cole and Rodón Closing In on Returns to the Majors

The New York Yankees might be headed for a big shift in their pitching depth. Both Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón are inching closer to rejoining the rotation after rehab stints at several minor-league affiliates.

With a Major League-best 2.70 staff ERA and a 24-11 record, the team’s hoping these two veteran All-Stars can give them a real boost when they’re back in the bigs. Let’s take a look at where Cole and Rodón are right now, what they’ve shown in rehab, and what their returns could mean for New York’s rotation.

Cole’s Rehab Progress

Gerrit Cole looks pretty close to a full return after several rehab games. He threw 60 pitches over five and a third innings in the second game of a doubleheader on April 29, giving up three earned runs and two homers after setting down the first 11 hitters.

Cole keeps talking about sticking to his process: pounding the strike zone, avoiding big misses, and getting his consistency back with all his pitches.

What Cole is targeting on his return

• Getting his full four-pitch mix working and hitting his spots
• Building up his workload while keeping mistakes in check
• Slowly building stamina for longer outings in a packed MLB schedule
• Coming back strong enough to help the Yankees win right away

So far, Cole’s logged 14.1 rehab innings in three appearances, with seven earned runs and 10 strikeouts. The 35-year-old won the 2023 AL Cy Young and missed the 2025 season after Tommy John surgery. Fans and the team are watching his comeback closely, hoping he anchors the Yankees’ staff as the season heats up.

Rodón’s Rehab Path

Carlos Rodón just made his second rehab outing for Somerset after throwing 4.1 innings with Hudson Valley on April 24. In his latest game, he tossed 75 pitches, struck out eight, and allowed just one earned run.

He’s been using his changeup more on purpose, which led to five strikeouts and shows he’s thinking carefully about how to rebuild his effectiveness after surgery.

Rodón’s approach and health history

• Had elbow surgery last October to remove loose bodies and a bone spur
• Dealt with a right hamstring setback that slowed his rehab
• Overall in rehab: 9.2 innings, one earned run, six hits, 12 strikeouts, no walks

Rodón says he feels close and ready when the team needs him. His rehab shows he’s focusing on control and mixing in more offspeed stuff as he prepares for a possible big-league return.

What This Means for the Yankees’ Rotation

New York’s pitching staff has looked different with its current health situation. The team’s early-season numbers—especially from the bullpen and starters—have been strong, with that 2.70 ERA really standing out.

Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón are two of their biggest assets. If they come back strong, the rotation could get a serious edge as New York pushes for the postseason.

Projected timeline and impact

• Both veterans are set for rehab starts on Tuesday—one with Hudson Valley, the other with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. They just wrapped up outings at TD Bank Ballpark for Somerset.
• The Yankees plan to plug them into the rotation as soon as they’re cleared. There’s some real hope here—they could turn tight games into wins.
• If they stay healthy, these guys might take some of the load off the younger pitchers. That could really help steady those tricky late innings.

The Yankees are watching two of their former All-Stars work their way back to the majors. There’s a plan in place, and you can see the progress so far.

The next few rehab starts feel pretty important. We’ll see when Cole and Rodón are ready for the grind of the MLB schedule.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Cole and Rodón Continue Closing in on Return to Bigs