BRIDGEWATER, N.J. -- Gerrit Cole did not have any trouble finding adrenaline in his first minor league appearance in eight years Tuesday night.
It was coursing through the New York Yankees ace as he made his first rehab appearance since being sidelined with nerve irritation and edema in his right elbow in mid-March, starting for the Double-A Somerset Patriots in front of a standing room only crowd.
Cole channeled that energy into an encouraging return to game action, holding the Hartford Yard Goats scoreless over 3u2153 innings. The right-hander allowed just two singles, didn't surrender a walk, and faced one batter over the minimum.