The next step in Gerrit Cole’s rehab is taking him back to the bump.
The Yankees ace is set to throw off a mound Saturday for the first time since being diagnosed in mid-March with right elbow inflammation and edema, manager Aaron Boone said Friday.
“It’s a step,” Boone said before facing the Tigers at Yankee Stadium. “It’s gone well so far, his build-up and checking the boxes of levels, intensity, of throwing and things like that. So far, so good, and getting off the mound will obviously be another step.”
Cole, the reigning American League Cy Young Award winner, resumed playing catch on April 8 and had only thrown off flat ground in the weeks since. Boone said he hadn’t determined whether Cole, 33, would throw a full bullpen session in his return to the mound Saturday.
Currently on the 60-day injured list, Cole is eligible to be activated as soon as May 27, though the Yankees have not released a timeline.
Asked Friday when the countdown would start should Cole require the equivalent of a six-week spring training to ramp up, Boone replied, “I guess the clock’s always going.”
“Especially for starting pitchers, and frankly, every pitcher now, you get to spring training, you typically have been going through a throwing program for some time and built up to be able to get on the mound and those kinds of things,” Boone said. “I’m not sure exactly the timeline. All I know is things have been going well.”
Cole, who is in the fifth season of a nine-year, $324 million contract with the Yankees, went 15-4 with a 2.63 ERA, a 0.98 WHIP and 222 strikeouts in 209 innings last season en route to his first Cy Young Award.
The Yankees have largely held up without Cole thus far, entering Friday with a 20-13 record and a 3.07 ERA that ranked third among MLB teams.
Each member of the starting rotation — Carlos Rodón, Marcus Stroman, Nestor Cortes, Clark Schmidt and Luis Gil — boasted a sub-4.00 ERA entering the weekend series against Detroit.
BERTI ALMOST BACK
Jon Berti (groin strain) could be activated from the injured list Saturday, according to Boone.
The utility infielder felt good after going 1-for-4 with a walk in a rehab game with Double-A Somerset on Thursday and was scheduled to go through a workout on Friday, Boone said.
His three-game rehab stint was briefly interrupted when his back locked up, causing him to sit out Wednesday.
Berti, whom the Yankees acquired in a trade with the Marlins right before Opening Day, appeared in only six games before going on the IL. He batted .294 in 388 at-bats with Miami last season and led the majors with 41 stolen bases in 2022.
“Brings some speed to the game,” Boone said. “Brings real defensive versatility, which is always welcome. A guy that can go into the outfield if you need him. A guy that can legitimately go over and play shortstop, and a really good bat-to-ball [hitter]. Looking forward to getting him back in the mix. He’ll play. Just kind of play the matchups each and every day.”
RELIEVER RELIEF
A pair of Yankees relievers are also making progress, with hard-throwing Nick Burdi (right hip inflammation) set to make a rehab appearance Sunday with Somerset.
Burdi, who pitched to a 0.00 ERA over seven outings before going on the IL, may need only a rehab game or two before returning to the Yankees, according to Boone.
Meanwhile, Tommy Kahnle (right shoulder inflammation) is set to throw a live session Saturday. The right-hander, who has not pitched in an MLB game this year, will either throw one more live session or go directly to a rehab appearance after that, the manager said.
