In his first MLB start since Oct. 30, 2024, Gerrit Cole allowed two hits and no runs over six innings, then was pulled by Aaron Boone before the seventh inning after 72 pitches. Cole said he agreed with the decision after the Yankees fell to the Tampa Bay Rays
For one precious half inning, it looked like Gerrit Cole might get through his comeback start and into the seventh with no interruptions—until the mound went quiet.
Cole, making his first MLB start since Oct. 30, 2024, allowed just two hits and zero runs over six innings. He looked like the pitcher Yankees fans remember from before the Tommy John surgery that sidelined him for over a year.
But manager Aaron Boone pulled him before the seventh inning, after Cole had thrown 72 pitches.
Around the stadium, that decision landed with the kind of uncertainty that comes when fans have waited too long to get a good thing back. Some Yankees supporters seemed disappointed by the move—Cole may have had another inning left, and Boone’s timing made it feel like he didn’t want to tempt fate.
Cole didn’t push back. After the game. he told reporters. “I feel like that was a smart play.” He added. “You know. it may seem easy. but it was a high-pressure. tough game. I had one quick inning and we made some great defensive plays that led to some of that efficiency as well. Overall, it was good work for what we had out there.”.
The result was a 4-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays. but the night still offered something the Yankees desperately needed: proof that their ace could return without immediate signs of lingering elbow trouble. Getting Cole through the start unscathed was a relief. and fans watched closely for anything—fatigue. reduced velocity. or any hint that the surgery had left a trace.
What stood out most was how close he looked to the pitcher he was before the injury. His velocity appeared to be right where it should be. He didn’t show any signs of fatigue, and his stuff looked as good as it had been prior to the problem.
Boone’s move. though questioned by some. framed the bigger picture for New York: Cole is back in the rotation. and that matters now. The Yankees will be without Max Fried for a little while longer. and Cole’s presence—alongside emerging ace Cam Schlittler. Will Warren. and Ryan Weathers—gives the team a rotation that can do real damage.
The Yankees may have left with a loss on the scoreboard. but their fans left thinking about one thing: Cole’s comeback didn’t end early because it went wrong. It ended early because Boone and the team were choosing caution after a long road back—while Cole himself looked prepared for what comes next.
Gerrit Cole Aaron Boone New York Yankees Tampa Bay Rays Tommy John surgery MLB Cy Young