TAMPA -- Nearly a year after suffering an elbow injury that pushed his season debut back to June, New York Yankees ace Gerrit Cole said he is "in a really good spot" compared with recent years after starting his offseason throwing program earlier than in previous winters.
The right-hander posted a 3.41 ERA in 17 regular-season starts in 2024 before recording a 2.17 ERA in five postseason outings, including a seven-inning gem in Game 4 of an AL Division Series to close out the Kansas City Royals.
Now, two years removed from winning the American League Cy Young Award and entering his age-34 season, Cole expects to regain his place among baseball's best hurlers.