New York Yankees ace Gerrit Cole is set to make his spring training debut Wednesday, marking his first official game action since undergoing Tommy John elbow surgery last year. The 35-year-old right-hander will throw one inning in an exhibition against the Boston Red Sox at Steinbrenner Field, according to manager Aaron Boone. Cole, the 2023 American League Cy Young Award winner, has been building back his arm strength through bullpen sessions.

Cole threw a 35-pitch bullpen session Thursday and has reached 97.5 mph with his fastball while also throwing breaking pitches. The Yankees are targeting a late May or early June return for their ace, who missed the entire 2025 season after the surgery. Before his injury, Cole had made at least 30 starts in each of his previous three seasons with New York, winning at least 13 games annually.

The six-time All-Star has altered his windup, putting his hands over his head instead of stopping at his chest as he did before the injury. Cole missed the start of the 2024 season with elbow issues and was limited to 17 starts that year. His last official outing came in Game 5 of the 2024 World Series.