New York Yankees great Gerrit Cole made a strong return from an elbow injury during a shortened outing Wednesday in his 2024 debut.
The Baltimore Orioles took a 3-1 lead after he was pulled in the fifth inning. But the Yankees – who built the AL’s best record without the services of their best pitcher – are now only stronger with Cole’s return and can feel good about his first effort of the season against major league hitters.
Cole pitched four innings, allowing three hits, one walk and two earned runs while recording five strikeouts. His four-seam fastball maxed out at 93 mph, a tick higher than his 2023 average fastball velocity of 96.7 mph.
He threw 61 pitches in four innings of one-run baseball and then returned for the fifth. He allowed a first-pitch single to Cedric Mullins, and his day was done after 62 pitches.
Manager Aaron Boone played it safe with his ace and replaced him with reliever Ron Marinaccio. Marinaccio allowed a home run to Ramón UrÃas in the next at bat, and Cole was tagged with his second earned run of the night as the Orioles took a 3-1 lead. Cole wasn’t happy about being pulled or the Orioles advancing, but there was plenty to like about his first start of 2024.
Cole comes into action after the lead-off double leads to a run
Cole started the night, allowing a leadoff double to Gunnar Henderson. Second baseman Gleyber Torres had an opportunity to play a ground ball, but it bounced off his glove into right field, allowing Henderson to reach second base. Henderson came around to score on a Ryan O’Hearn ground-ruled double with two outs.
Cole finished his first inning back with 10 strikes in 13 pitches while allowing two hits and one earned run. Then he settled down.
Cole made quick work of the team in a 1-2-3 second inning that required seven pitches. He led off the third with his first strikeout of the season. Jorge Mateo swung and missed a third strike cutter from the plate.
He then walked Henderson on eight pitches for his first and only free pass of the night. Two more strikeouts ended the third. He brought on Adley Rutschman and Ryan Mountcastle for a three-strikeout inning to complete his second run at the top of the Orioles bracket.
Cole then entered the fourth inning with two strikeouts in a 1-2-3 inning. After inducing a leadoff lineout from O’Hearn, he struck out both Anthony Santander and Colton Cowser, swinging 96 mph fastballs at the top of the zone.
He then returned briefly for the fifth, when he was pulled after his first pitch.
Cole started this season on the injured list after suffering nerve inflammation and swelling in his throwing elbow. He avoided Tommy John surgery and has been preparing for rehabilitation in recent weeks. The Yankees called him up for Wednesday’s game after he recorded 19 strikeouts and zero walks in 12 1/3 innings in three minor league rehab starts.
Barring any setbacks, he’s now back in the rotation and should see his pitch count gradually increase as the Yankees set their sights on the AL East crown and beyond.
