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Gerrit Cole, the Yankees pitcher who missed last year due to Tommy John surgery, is set to return for the American League Division Series against the Rays. In an interview, Cole expressed his excitement and gratitude for being able to participate this time around after overcoming significant challenges from his elbow injury. He highlighted the strength of the current rotation and the team's adaptability in dealing with injuries throughout the season, emphasizing their readiness for a deep playoff run despite recent setbacks.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-02,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Gerrit Cole, a 36-year-old pitcher for the New York Yankees who underwent Tommy John surgery last year, is set to make his postseason debut in the ALDS against the Tampa Bay Rays. Cole, who missed all of the 2023 season due to the injury, expressed enthusiasm about returning to playoff action and contributing to his childhood team's quest for another World Series title. Despite a disappointing loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers in last year’s World Series, Cole believes this year's squad has a strong chance at success after overcoming significant challenges following his surgery. He views this current postseason as a second opportunity ("2.0") and emphasizes how meaningful it is to be back on the field given his recovery journey.
Written for “Yankees Playoff Return” on 2026-10-04,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Gerrit Cole hasn’t pitched yet in this postseason, but that is certain to change against the Rays in the ALDS.
asserted
that → pitch → ALDS
Try it freeFor Cole, who missed all of last season — including the playoffs — following Tommy John surgery, it will be worth the wait.
asserted
it → try → surgery
“This time around, I have a different perspective,’’ Cole said in the celebratory clubhouse late Wednesday night. “Having missed it last year to now being right in the thick of it.
asserted
Cole → have → it
To overcome the obstacles from the surgery and maintain my performance and be in this position after a lot of hard work, it means a little more this year.”
asserted
it → overcome → more
Cole said of this postseason, “It’s 2.0.
asserted
It → say → postseason
For Cole, who arrived in The Bronx with much fanfare in December 2020, the goal has always been to get the Yankees — his childhood team — another World Series title.
They took a shot at it in 2024 before falling short to the Dodgers in five games, but now, after tearing his UCL the following spring training, the 36-year-old feels they have a good chance to keep this postseason run going.
asserted
run → arrive → chance
A big part of that is their rotation, which will be tested more in the best-of-five ALDS against Tampa Bay than in the two-game sweep at home over a Red Sox team that was gasping to the finish line.
asserted
that → test → line
At various points during the season, nearly all of the Yankee starters dealt with at least some injury concern, whether it was Cole returning from Tommy John in May, Carlos Rodón also missing the beginning of the season following his offseason elbow surgery or Max Fried battling a bone bruise in his left elbow.
uncertain
Fried → deal → elbow
But as the Yankees now head into the heart of the playoffs in the first week of October, their rotation is lined up as well as they could have planned.
uncertain
they → head → October
“The mix of all of us looks good,” Cole said.
asserted
Cole → look → us
“We have four or five unique arms, with completely different stuff and it’s elite.”
asserted
it → have → stuff
The Yankees didn’t announce their rotation order for the ALDS on Wednesday, but Cole and Rodón are in line to pitch Game 1, with Cam Schlittler potentially in Game 2 so he would be available for a Game 5 start.
asserted
he → announce → start
“However they draw it up, I think we’re in a good spot,’’ Cole said.
asserted
Cole → draw → spot
“Carlos and I will just take the ball and we all have our own unique ways of doing it.”
asserted
we → take → it
He believes the same is true of the rest of the team, which showed off some flexibility in the wild-card series, with multiple players playing first base, second, third, center field and right.
asserted
players → believe → base
For the two games against Boston, they hardly even seemed to miss Aaron Judge, who remains out with a strained calf.
asserted
who → seem → calf
The 2023 Yankees were unable to overcome his absence and missed the playoffs when Judge suffered a torn ligament in his toe.
asserted
Judge → overcome → toe
“It’s taken all of us,’’ Cole said.
asserted
Cole → take → us
“We found a way to thrive with a hand behind our back … [and] we have a lot of different ways to beat you.”
asserted
we → find → you
Cole hopes he’s one of them in the next round, having last pitched a postseason game in the ugly Game 5 loss to the Dodgers two years ago.
asserted
he → hop → Dodgers
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