Yankees Officially Schedule Gerrit Cole's Return
The wait is over: the New York Yankees are finally getting Gerrit Cole back this weekend.
Prior to their game against the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday, Yankees manager Aaron Boone announced that Cole will make his season debut on Friday, May 22 against the Tampa Bay Rays. Cole, 35, missed the entire 2025 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery. His most recent start came in Game 5 of the 2024 World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Gerrit Cole will make his season debut on Friday night vs. the Rays, @Yankees manager Aaron Boone announced.
— MLB (@MLB) May 19, 2026
His last Major League game was October 30, 2024. pic.twitter.com/sh3VXuBNHO
Cole's impending return played a role in one of the Bronx Bombers' recent roster decisions. On Monday, they chose to option starting pitcher and No. 2 prospect Elmer Rodriguez back to the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders and called up relief pitcher Yovanny Cruz. Rodriguez was originally going to hold Max Fried's spot in the rotation until Cole returned, but the Yankees have chosen to forgo a final rehab start for their ace.
Before the 2020 season, Cole signed a nine-year, $324 million contract with the Yankees to become the ace of their staff. Having solidified himself as one of the best pitchers in MLB with the Houston Astros, the right-hander has been exactly as advertised in pinstripes. From 2020 to 2024, he made 125 starts and tossed 759.0 innings while totaling a 59-28 record, 915 strikeouts (30.3% strikeout rate), a 3.12 ERA, 3.32 FIP, 1.03 WHIP and 17.1 fWAR. Cole additionally won the AL Cy Young Award in 2023 with a 2.63 ERA and 222 strikeouts across 209.0 innings.
Gerrit Cole will start for the New York Yankees on Friday pic.twitter.com/vwSDqmu2uo
— Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) May 19, 2026
Although Cole missed the first two months of the 2024 season and all of 2025, he figures to slot in a deep and talented Yankees rotation. New York's unit consists of Cam Schlittler, Carlos Rodon, Will Warren and Ryan Weathers, while also featuring Fried before he landed on the injured list with a bone bruise in his elbow.
The Yankees were coming off a 2-7 road trip when they began a crucial seven-game homestand against the Blue Jays and Rays on Monday. They got off to a good start with a dramatic 7-6 win over Toronto, so now the Bronx Bombers will look to build off of that momentum over the course of the week.
When Cole takes the mound, he will be facing a Rays team that has surprised many and currently holds the best record in baseball at 31-15. He will be tasked with slowing down the AL East leaders and getting the Bronx Bombers into position to take first place back.
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This story was originally published May 19, 2026 at 2:05 PM.