Gerrit Cole might be ready to join New York's rotation, even if the Yankees aren't ready to commit

BOSTON — Gerrit Cole could be ready to rejoin the New York Yankees rotation after three minor league rehab starts, although the team isn’t yet ready to commit to his return.

“I obviously feel good today,” the AL Cy Young Award winner said Saturday at Fenway Park, a day after throwing 70 pitches for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in Rochester. “Last night was a good night.”

The 33-year-old right-hander struck out 10 in 4 1/3 innings, allowing two hits and allowing one unearned run.

“We’re just going to look at these next few days and decide whether it’s another start of rehab or just bringing him (here),” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “Obviously he’ll have some say in that, especially if it’s a new start of rehab.”

Cole struck out 19 and walked none in 12 1/3 innings in three minor league rehab outings. He threw 45 pitches in his first start and 57 in his second, both at Double-A Somerset.

“I feel like everything is coming together,” Cole said. “Anyway, I don’t plan on coming back with 100 pitches, so there’s a ways to go.” The closer you get, the more excited you get.

When asked if he thought he was ready to strike out big league hitters, Cole paused and said, “I definitely feel like I had a pretty good shot last night , It’s certain. You never really know until you know.

Cole made his only spring training start on March 1, then was diagnosed with nerve inflammation and edema and told to rest. He began throwing bullpens on May 4 and began his first rehab on June 4.

“I also want to look at the computer, it usually takes a day to process all the numbers and everything, so I think a conversation will probably happen when we have that information,” Cole said when asked if he thought his next start would be with the Yankees. “My eyes said it was pretty good. I guess it was really good.

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