Gerrit Cole delivered a strong performance in his Triple-A rehab start, reaching 99.6 mph with his fastball over 5⅓ innings. The 35-year-old Yankees ace allowed one run on six hits while striking out six and walking one in Saturday night's outing, continuing his comeback from reconstructive elbow surgery last March.

Cole averaged 97 mph with his fastball and threw 56 of his 86 pitches for strikes. Yankees manager Aaron Boone confirmed this was likely Cole's next-to-last minor league rehab assignment. The six-time All-Star has posted a 4.71 ERA over 28⅔ innings during his rehab, showing progress with each outing.

The 2023 AL Cy Young Award winner has worked his way up from High-A and Double-A to Triple-A as he nears his return to the major league rotation. With Max Fried sidelined due to elbow injury, New York's current rotation consists of Carlos Rodon, Cam Schlittler, Will Warren and Ryan Weathers, giving Cole a clear path back to the mound when he's fully ready.