TAMPA, Fla. — Everything felt normal again for Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole on Friday when he threw to hitters for the first time since his Tommy John surgery last March.
This wasn’t rehab to him.
This was all about making pitches to three major-league hitters he faced for a combined four at-bats: Aaron Judge twice, Jasson Dominguez and Trent Grisham once apiece.
Mission accomplished.
Dominguez and Judge laced liners to the outfield that would have dropped in for singles if this live BP included fielders, but Cole’s velocity spiked from his bullpens and his command was excellent.
His four-seamers were close to midseason form, 94-95 mph with a 96.9 mixed in.
“I was a little surprised,” Cole said before Saturday’s Yankees-Tigers’ Grapefruit League game. “I guess at the same time it’s logical. I’m pretty built up. Things have been looking really good and it’s probably a couple miles an hour under my average for my career. So in those regards, it seems about right.
“But I hadn’t come really within probably about two or so miles an hour of averaging that velocity (in my bullpens).”
This felt almost like a game for Cole, who was feeling extra adrenalin.
“The threat of the ball coming back at you elevates the stakes a little bit, so there’s a natural reaction to that,” Cole said.
Cole didn’t talk with reporters after his one-inning, 28-pitch live BP, but was all smiles holding court the day after.
He was thrilled that he felt so good, thrilled about his command and thrilled how he felt the morning after.
His rehabbing is going very well, but there’s no thought of rushing to get back to the Yankees instead of probably a best-case late May or early June return.
“It’s great to feel great, but I don’t think it makes me want to accelerate,” Cole said. “No.”