Gerrit Cole spring training Yankees

Mar 24, 2026; Mesa, Arizona, USA; New York Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole against the Chicago Cubs during spring training at Sloan Park. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

New York Yankees ace Gerrit Cole will face Single-A hitters with Hudson Valley on Sunday, manager Aaron Boone disclosed on Thursday afternoon prior to his team’s series finale against the Athletics at Yankee Stadium. 

The 35-year-old right-hander continues to ramp up the final portions of his rehab from the Tommy John surgery he underwent last spring, which held him out for the entire 2025 campaign. He threw a bullpen session at Yankee Stadium on Saturday, then threw again two days later on Monday.

As it stands, all signs continue to point to a return next month.

Cole had made two spring-training appearances toward the back-end of the exhibition slate last month. He went 1.2 innings in his final outing against the Chicago Cubs, throwing 26 pitches and striking out three while giving up a run. 

While the Yankees are waiting for both he and Carlos Rodon to make their season debuts, their starting rotation has been brilliant, which suggests that they could have the best unit in baseball when two of their top arms ultimately return. 

New York starters have a combined 2.28 ERA entering Thursday’s action against the Athletics, which ranks No. 1 in Major League Baseball by nearly four-tenths of a run over No. 2 Cleveland. 

The unit is getting another boost on Friday when 2024 AL Rookie of the Year Luis Gil makes his season debut. Boone went with a four-man rotation to start the year, thanks to four off days built into the first 13 days of the season. The early returns have been remarkably promising, with Max Fried and Cam Schlittler looking like Cy Young Award candidates and Will Warren serving as a reliable No. 3 option.

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