Did anyone else see Gerrit Cole against the Chicago Cubs regulars?  It’s been since the 2024 World Series that we have seen Cole pitch in a meaningful game.  Today, he threw 26 pitches and averaged 96.3 MPH.  He threw all his pitches, and all indications are that he looked great.  So, the question on every New York Yankees fan’s mind is, when do we see our ace in a major league regular-season game?  Now, the Yankees have said he won’t be back until mid-May or June, but we are Yankees fans, so we always question Brian Cashman’s decision.  After all, does it make sense to keep the ace out that long if he is ready?  So, let’s look at three potential timetables for his return, recognizing the Yankees have chosen the second option.

Option 1: Let’s get it on (Sorry Marvin Gaye) (My approach)

Gerrit Cole is a potential Hall of Fame pitcher. Injuries, however, have held him back.  Of course, he wants to pitch as much as he can. And as I tell people all the time, games in April matter as much as games in September.  Cole threw 26 pitches on March 24th.  He threw 10 in his previous start.  So, it’s obvious the Yankees are increasing his pitch count by 15.  March 29th would be his next scheduled start, but only the Yankees’ AAA team (Scranton) is in action, so let’s keep him in Florida and have him throw 40 pitches. On April 3rd, the Yankees’ Single-A team (Tampa) is home and opens its season. Let’s put Cole on the mound and let him throw 55 pitches.  The following outing would be April 8th, the Yankees AA team (Somerset) plays in Lakeland. Let’s have him throw 70 pitches.  Now, technically, at that point, he could go 85 pitches, but let’s have him get in a AAA game. Sadly, Scranton doesn’t play on April 13th, so let’s have him throw 85 pitches on the road in Syracuse.  So, that lines him up to return to the Yankees on April 18th at home against the Kansas City Royals!

Option 2: Let’s wait awhile (Sorry Janet Jackson) (Yankees approach)

Major League Baseball limits rehab assignments for pitchers to 30 days.  The Yankees have publicly said we shouldn’t expect him back until mid-May.  Under this approach, he would have to pitch simulated games until around April 17th (when I want to see him at Yankee Stadium).  This would mean 4 simulated starts before hitting the mound.  His starts would likely be at Single A (April 18th vs. Brandenton), at Single A (April 23rd vs. Lakeland), at AA (April 28 vs. Portland), at AA (May 3rd again vs. Portland), at AAA (May 8th vs. Worcester), at AAA (May 13th vs Syracuse), and he would return at home to face the Toronto Blue Jays on May 18th.  I mean, maybe the Yankees just want him to play their likely biggest competitor.

Option 3: The Hybrid Theory (Sorry Linkin Park) (Compromise Approach)

I understand that my approach is fast, but the Yankees’ approach is slow and would include at least four simulated games, which seems like a lot. So, let’s find a middle ground. Again, the Yankees likely want Cole to start at Single A, so it’s a simulated game rather than an outing in Tampa on April 3rd (just like in my preferred approach), where he throws 40 pitches. He stays in Single A to throw 55 pitches at Clearwater on April 8th. On April 15th, he throws 70 pitches against Bradenton. April 20th is an off day in AA, so let’s put him on the mound on April 21st to throw 80 pitches.  On April 26th, he goes to AAA to pitch against Rochester with a 90 pitch count.  At this point, he can either go up to the Yankees at home to face the Baltimore Orioles on May 1st, or he can stay in AAA to face Buffalo.   The Yankees are home to face the Texas Rangers on May 6th.  

Personally, I think the Yankees’ approach is too conservative.  A pitcher risks injury or a setback in a simulated game just like in a real game.  Realistically, Cole could break camp and pitch three innings.  In essence, by pitching him in Spring Training games, the Yankees raised expectations for his return. It seems odd that they would slow him down with almost a month of simulated games.  Let’s hope the Yankees get aggressive and minimally take the Hybrid approach!