NEW YORK (AP) — Yankees ace Gerrit Cole is scheduled to throw off a mound Saturday for the first time since getting injured in spring training.
“Whether that’s a full bullpen or what exactly that looks like, we’ll see,” New York manager Aaron Boone said before Friday night’s game against Detroit. “I think it’s gone well so far, his buildup and checking the boxes and the level of intensity of throwing and things like that. So far, so good. Getting off the mound will obviously be another step.”
The reigning AL Cy Young Award winner has been on the 60-day injured list all season with right elbow inflammation. He’s not expected back until at least June.
Cole has been throwing on flat ground. The 33-year-old right-hander was shut down in March due to nerve irritation and edema in his pitching elbow.
In other injury news, infielder Jon Berti played third base Thursday in a rehab game with Double-A Somerset and went 1 for 4 with a walk and two strikeouts. He was set to go through a workout Friday and potentially come off the injured list Saturday.
The speedy Berti has been sidelined since April 11 with a left groin strain.
“Looking forward to getting him back in the mix,” Boone said.
Right-handed reliever Nick Burdi (right hip inflammation) is slated to pitch Sunday for Somerset and could be reinstated from the IL after one or two minor league rehab outings.
Yankees reliever Tommy Kahnle (right shoulder inflammation) is expected to begin a rehab assignment after throwing live batting practice once or twice more. His next such session will be Saturday.
Cole went 15-4 with an AL-best 2.63 ERA and 222 strikeouts in 209 innings over 33 starts last year. The six-time All-Star is in the fifth season of a $324 million, nine-year contract that pays $36 million annually. Cole has the right to opt out after the season and become a free agent, but if he opts out the Yankees can void the opt-out by adding a guaranteed $36 million salary for 2029.
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