BALTIMORE — Sitting in the Yankees’ dugout at Camden Yards on Wednesday, Aaron Boone answered a series of questions regarding injury updates and recovering players.
However, he still didn’t know the answer to the team’s most important rehab-related question: when will Gerrit Cole get on a mound?
“I’m sure it’s soon,” Boone said, “but I don’t have that.”
Cole, working his way back from the elbow inflammation that sidelined him in spring training, has been playing catch since April 8. On Tuesday, he went through a “pretty heavy throwing day,” which went well, according to Boone.
Cole, who did not travel to Milwaukee or Baltimore, and Boone have only shared positive updates after each catch session. But the reigning Cy Young winner has been taking things slow before transitioning to mound work, the next significant step in his recovery.
Cole is on the 60-day injured list, and May 27 is the earliest he can be activated. Based on where he’s at, that seems like too soon of a target date.
On Wednesday, Boone was asked if the July All-Star break is more realistic. The skipper didn’t want to speculate, though.
“I wouldn’t even want to guess on that,” Boone said. “He and the trainers and everyone’s kind of working through that. So we’ll see.”
The Yankees have previously said that Cole will need to go through a full spring training-type routine, which typically includes five starts. Considering he hasn’t gotten on a mound yet, he’s still far from checking those boxes.
In the meantime, the Yankees’ rotation has pitched fairly well without Cole leading it.
Prior to Wednesday’s game against the Orioles, the group ranked fifth in ERA (3.37) and K% (24.3), sixth in innings pitched (168), and eighth in opponents’ batting average (.228).
“They’re an enormous reason why we have the record, at this point, that we do,” Boone said with the Yankees 19-12. “They’ve given us a chance to win every night.”
With that said, the Yankees are certainly looking forward to Cole’s return.
“Not having Gerrit Cole to start off was going to be tough, but the boys have been grinding,” Nestor Cortes said Tuesday after allowing four earned runs over six innings. “The boys have been pitching well.
“Obviously, we’re waiting for Gerrit to get back, but we’re gonna hold the fort down until he does.”
Other Rehabbers
Boone said that DJ LeMahieu (nondisplaced right foot fracture) hasn’t resumed baseball activities yet, but he reported “feeling great” on Wednesday. Once the third baseman resumes baseball activities, Boone said the hope is that he ramps up for a few days before he restarts a rehab assignment. Boone didn’t expect LeMahieu to need more imaging before returning to game action.
Jon Berti (groin) took a night off from his rehab assignment Wednesday, as his back locked up on him after playing on Tuesday. Boone said the hope is that the utilityman can play on Thursday.
Finally, Boone said that Nick Burdi (hip) will probably pitch in a rehab game before being activated. Boone added that that could happen soon. Burdi threw a bullpen in Somerset on Tuesday.
Pop on a Plane
Boone also said that Alex Verdugo (paternity list) could potentially fly to Baltimore late Wednesday night. Asked if Verdugo would be in Thursday’s lineup, Boone said “we’ll see.”