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Gerrit Cole Set to Return Post-Surgery Against Red Sox

3/17/2026

31 5 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Gerrit Cole of the New York Yankees will return from Tommy John surgery on March 11, 2025, in a game against the Boston Red Sox.
The Wednesday game marks 53 weeks since surgery and comes one week before the 2026 season.
Cole plans to pitch one inning, saying it will not alter his 14-to-18 month recovery timeline.
The Yankees will monitor his performance as they prepare for the season.

History

Historical Context

In 1974, Dr. Frank Jobe performed the first ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction, known as Tommy John surgery, on pitcher Tommy John, who later returned to win 164 games. This innovative procedure has since been performed over 25,000 times, significantly impacting player recovery and management in baseball, as seen in the successful return of New York Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole in 2025.

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Story summary

Gerrit Cole of the New York Yankees will return from Tommy John surgery on March 11, 2025, in a game against the Boston Red Sox.
The Wednesday game marks 53 weeks since surgery and comes one week before the 2026 season.
Cole plans to pitch one inning, saying it will not alter his 14-to-18 month recovery timeline.
The Yankees will monitor his performance as they prepare for the season.

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