Yanks set Cole's first rehab start for Tuesday

SAN FRANCISCO -- Gerrit Cole is scheduled to take another significant step toward his return to the big leagues on Tuesday, when the reigning American League Cy Young Award winner will make his first Minor League rehab start for Double-A Somerset.

Cole could throw approximately 50 pitches in the 6:35 p.m. ET game against the Hartford Yard Goats. Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that Cole is expected to need at least two Minor League rehab outings before he would be ready to make his season debut.

“I try not to get ahead of myself with it,” Boone said. “Let’s just keep checking boxes, keep moving the needle. Ever since he got shut down, I feel like it’s moved in a good direction the whole way. It’s just about continuing to move toward that point.”

Cole has been recovering from right elbow inflammation and edema that interrupted his Spring Training, when he reported difficulty bouncing back after outings. After a prescribed period of rest, the right-hander has been tossing from a mound since May 4.

Cole’s most recent outing came on May 30 at the Yankees’ complex in Tampa, Fla., when he threw 43 pitches over three innings of live batting practice against Minor Leaguers. That session marked Cole’s third time facing hitters since the injury.

Asked recently if he considers it realistic to return to the big league rotation in June, Cole said, “I wouldn’t rule it out.”

The Yankees’ rotation has done a fine job filling in for Cole, who was 15-4 with a 2.63 ERA in 33 starts last season. However, right-hander Clarke Schmidt landed on the injured list earlier this week with a right lat strain.

Right-hander Cody Poteet picked up a victory in place of Schmidt on Saturday at San Francisco and could remain in the rotation until Cole is ready. Boone said that the club has not determined how many pitches Cole must throw in a game before that happens.

“It just depends; do we want to bring him in a situation where he’s at 60, 65, 70 pitches?” Boone said. “Do we want him to have one more [rehab start]? We’ll have a better feel for that, and certainly Gerrit will have a better feel for that as he now goes and starts pitching in games.”