(Photo credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images)

The New York Yankees sent Gerrit Cole on a minor league rehab assignment Friday as the right-hander closes in on his first major league appearance since Game 5 of the 2024 World Series.

Cole, 35, underwent Tommy John surgery in March of 2025 after experiencing elbow discomfort early in spring training. He spent time on the injured list in 2024 with elbow discomfort.

Cole was assigned to Double-A Somerset and was scheduled to throw as many as 40 pitches in Friday's game against Reading, a Philadelphia Phillies affiliate.

'It's one step at a time,' Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. 'We're looking forward to him starting on Friday, and then we'll build him from there. Even when he gets back to us, we'll probably be conservative with him.'

Cole is expected to make his season debut with the Yankees in late May or early June. He did make two appearances in spring training games, posting a 3.38 ERA over 2 2/3 innings.

A six-time All-Star and the 2023 American League Cy Young Award winner, Cole is 153-80 with a 3.18 ERA in 317 career starts over 12 seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates (2013-17), Houston Astros (2018-19) and Yankees. He led the American League in ERA in 2019 (2.50) and 2023 (2.63).

The Yankees are also expected to have left-hander Carlos Rodon throw a live batting practice session at Somerset on Saturday in advance of a minor league rehab outing next week.

Rodon has not pitched for New York this season after surgery to remove a bone spur in his elbow. His recovery was slowed by a hamstring injury.

Rodon, 33, is 93-72 with a 3.73 ERA in 231 appearances (226 starts) over 11 seasons with the Chicago White Sox (2015-21), San Francisco Giants (2022) and Yankees. Rodon is a three-time All-Star.

--Field Level Media