New York Yankees' Injured Ace Playing Catch at 75-Feet

The New York Yankees' injured ace took a big step in his rehab as he is now playing catch at 75-feet.

Mar 29, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; New York Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole smiles during batting / Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

A very good sign for the New York Yankees' injured ace.

Reigning American League Cy Young Award winner Gerrit Cole has begun playing catch from a distance of 75-feet, according to Bryan Hoch of MLB.com.

Cole has been sidelined since Spring Training due to an elbow injury, which will not require Tommy John surgery as his UCl is intact. The righty was checked out first by Yankees' team doctors before heading out to Los Angeles to see esteemed sports surgeon Dr. Neal ElAtracche, who concurred that rest and rehab was the best path.

The hope is that Cole will be able to return by June, and he appears to be on track as he continues to hit his benchmarks in recovery. In the meantime, Luis Gil has stepped up and so has the rest of the Yankees' rotation as the team has jumped out to a 12-5 record.

At this point, the Yankees are the clear cut World Series favorites in the AL. But if the club is going to reach their goal of playing late in October, they will need their ace back in Cole.

The Yankees signed Cole to a record-setting nine-year, $324 million deal prior to the 2020 season and he has proceeded to be their work horse atop the rotation.

Cole has been one of the best pitchers in baseball since entering the league in 2013. The soon-to-be 34-year-old is still at the top of his game and will provide a major boost to the Yankees' rotation once he is able to return.

The Yankees are hoping Cole will be back by June, and it is a very positive sign that he has moved back to throwing at 75-feet as of this date.