Gerrit Cole will take another step in his recovery from nerve inflammation in his elbow on Tuesday when he faces hitters for the first time since landing on the injured list in late March.
Cole felt good Sunday after throwing 40 pitches in his fifth bullpen session on Saturday.
\"Yeah, it\'s important,\" New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. \"Bouncing back from a two-up bullpen with some guys standing in on him, and I know (he was) feeling good (Sunday) coming in.
\"We just want to continue to progress and continue to stack good days, and that\'s another step along the way of getting out there on the bump and facing hitters. I\'m sure there\'s an added little adrenaline that goes with that. All important steps on his return.\"
Cole, 33, is coming off a season in which he went 15-4 while leading the American League in ERA (2.63) and innings pitched (209). He struck out 222 and walked 48. He won the 2023 AL Cy Young award.