Gerrit Cole is expected to return to the Yankees’ rotation sometime around late May to early June 2026, but there is still no firm, official timetable.

Where his rehab stands now

Recent reports out of Yankees spring training say Cole is progressing well and has moved into facing live hitters, a key step that usually comes late in a pitching rehab. Aaron Boone and team officials have indicated he is unlikely to be ready for Opening Day, but there is optimism he could pitch in Grapefruit League games before the end of spring.

Why there’s uncertainty

Cole underwent Tommy John surgery in 2025 after recurring elbow issues, which wiped out that entire season. Typical recovery timelines for a frontline starter after that surgery run roughly 14–15 months, and even then teams often add extra time to build pitch count and stamina before letting them go deep into games.

Best current expectation

Putting those pieces together:

  • Not expected for Opening Day 2026.
  • Club optimism about game action by late spring (Grapefruit League).
  • Most public estimates and fan discussions center on a late May or early June 2026 return to the regular-season rotation, assuming no setbacks.

So if you’re planning fantasy drafts or just circling the calendar as a Yankees fan, treating “early summer 2026” as the realistic window is safest, with the understanding that one setback could push him closer to mid‑season.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.