Yankees’ Gerrit Cole Sharp in Second Minor-League Rehab Start

The article tracks the Yankees’ ongoing effort to bring ace Gerrit Cole back from elbow surgery. It follows his back-to-back minor-league rehab starts, highlighting what the latest Hudson Valley Renegades outing says about his readiness and what it might mean for New York’s rotation as Carlos Rodón ramps up his own return.

Gerrit Cole’s second rehab start at Hudson Valley

In his second straight minor-league rehab appearance, the 35-year-old right-hander pitched 4 1/3 innings for the Class A Hudson Valley Renegades against the Brooklyn Cyclones. Cole gave up two runs on five hits, struck out four, and didn’t walk anyone.

He threw 42 of 52 pitches for strikes. Corey Collins tagged him for a fourth-inning homer, and Diego Mosquera added a sacrifice fly in the fifth after Yohairo Cuevas’ leadoff double.

Cole said he felt good. He reached the fifth inning and mixed in all his pitches.

Hudson Valley start: key numbers and takeaways

• Innings pitched: 4 1/3
• Runs/ hits: 2 runs on 5 hits
• Strikeouts/ walks: 4 strikeouts, 0 walks
• Strike rate: 42 of 52 pitches for strikes
• Key blemishes: Fourth-inning home run by Corey Collins; fifth-inning sac fly after leadoff double by Yohairo Cuevas
• Assessment: Cole worked in all his off-speed and breaking pitches, kept his command, and kept building stamina on his way back to the majors

A week earlier, in his first rehab outing with Double-A Somerset, Cole also went 4 1/3 innings. He allowed three earned runs on three hits, walked one, and struck out three.

The Yankees have described this ramp-up as a careful process. They want to ease him back without risking his elbow again.

Somerset rehab appearance: the initial data point

That first outing gave a baseline for Cole’s velocity and pitch mix as he moves toward a return. The lines from Somerset weren’t perfect, but the Yankees focused on his command and ability to throw all his pitches for strikes.

What this means for Cole’s timeline and the Yankees’ rotation

New York’s been clear about their staged approach, using minor-league starts to check his recovery and stamina. Cole’s been striking out hitters and keeping walks down, which should help him work back toward a full MLB workload later in the season.

Carlos Rodón: rehab ramp-up and what Yankees fans should watch

Carlos Rodón is also on the comeback trail. The club said Rodón, 33, will make his first rehab start Friday against Brooklyn after elbow surgery last October to remove loose bodies and shave a bone spur in his left elbow.

He dealt with a tight hamstring this spring, but Yankees officials and Cole have both said Rodón is responding well. The plan is to keep ramping him up over the next few weeks.

Rodón’s rehab timeline and what it means for depth

• Upcoming start: Rodón will make his first rehab start Friday against Brooklyn.
• Surgery details: He had elbow surgery on Oct. 15 to remove loose bodies and shave a bone spur.
• Current status: His recovery looks on track, and the hamstring issue’s settled enough for him to ramp up behind Cole.
• Impact on rotation: If both return on a managed timeline, the Yankees get some much-needed depth. That lets them mix experienced arms with younger reinforcements as they rebuild innings.

The Yankees are watching Cole and Rodón closely. Fans will keep seeing updates on minor-league starts and tweaks to the plan as the team tries to rebuild a rotation that can actually last the season.

Getting both aces back—one lefty, one righty—really depends on how their command and stamina hold up, and how much they’re willing to push rehab without ignoring the medical side. It’s a tricky balance, honestly.

 
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