Cole works – Gerrit Cole is expected to return from Tommy John surgery on Friday night against the Tampa Bay Rays. After the Yankees let him come back late in spring training to avoid rushing his season debut, the bold prediction is simple: Cole reaches the 6th inning if h
Friday night carries a specific kind of pressure for the New York Yankees, and it’s not just because the Tampa Bay Rays are waiting.
It’s because Gerrit Cole is back.
The Yankees right-hander is expected to make his return from injury on Friday night against the Rays. Cole’s road to this start included Tommy John surgery. and while he did return toward the end of spring training. New York made the decision to give him more time before launching him into his season debut. The goal was straightforward: be cautious enough to protect the comeback. but ready enough to matter once the regular season begins.
That cautious approach will likely shape how the outing starts. The Yankees are expected to limit Cole in that first game, but the expectation isn’t a quick hook for the sake of it. If he stays within his pitch count, he should be able to work fairly deep into the game.
The opponent complicates everything. The Rays are eighth in runs scored this year. which means Cole is walking into an offense that has found ways to produce. They also strike out less than any other team. a detail that matters more in a season debut than most fans realize. Against a lineup that doesn’t hand out easy outs through strikeouts. a pitcher can’t rely on whiffing his way through the innings.
So the bold prediction is this: Cole works into the 6th inning.
It might not sound like the loudest possible call. but pitching into the 6th inning after recovering from Tommy John surgery—especially in a first start—would be a statement in its own right. To make it happen, Cole will need to pitch to contact and avoid long at-bats. Finding success against the Rays likely means he won’t be able to dominate through pure strikeout totals on Friday. and he understands what the adjustment requires once the game starts.
The Yankees, the opponent, and the timing all point in the same direction for one outcome that would feel right: Cole pitching into the 6th inning in an overall strong season debut against the Rays on Friday night.
Gerrit Cole New York Yankees Tampa Bay Rays season debut Tommy John surgery spring training pitch count 6th inning 2023 Cy Young