The Yankee Stadium could’ve played Harry Styles’ song, after all their ace was finally back in town. Months after his elbow injury scared the New York Yankees fanbase, the reigning Cy Young winner Gerrit Cole was finally back in action. Though there was some rust, it disappeared almost instantly. And while the Yankees lost the game, they found something much greater after seeing Cole in action – a deep look into their future. Cole had been preparing for this day for a long time.

The fact that his season debut came against the Baltimore Orioles – the undisputed primary rival of the Yankees this season, was only the cherry on top. Despite throwing only 62 pitches and just over four innings, Cole showed how returning to his best form wouldn’t take long. And as Aaron Boone revealed, Cole is already showing signs of his aggression. “I think he was probably a little fatigued there even after the fourth (inning),” Aaron Boone said in his postgame presser. “But he wanted to try and push through at least with a hitter.” Boone had already planned to give Cole a maximum of 65 pitches. Still, he agreed with the ace’s sentiment and sent him out for the 5th inning. 

Even though Cole looked highly rusty in the first inning, where he gave away a run, he followed that up with a stellar performance. However, the fifth inning proved to be a bridge too far for him. After avoiding any hits after the first inning, Cole gave away a leadoff single to Cedric Mullins. Overall, the Cy Young winning ace gave away 3 hits, 2 earned runs, 1 walk, and had 5 strikeouts. Though the Yankees couldn’t generate a win for their ace, Gerrit Cole was nonetheless pleased with his performance. It provided him with a nice platform to build upon.

Gerrit Cole overcomes “nerves” to generate a solid outing

The New York Yankees ace was visibly nervous before the game. He has often talked about the adrenaline rush he feels before every start. This one was a little higher than usual because of his extended absence. As a result, he wanted to ensure that things went down positively. After the game, the ace explained how he felt leading up to the game.

“It was kind of a special game for me,” Cole said as per New York Post. “It’s just been a long few months and a lot of emotions. I wasn’t too sure how I was gonna feel out there. Locating the ball always quells the nerves a little bit.” The superstar was happy about one thing – that he got “swing and a miss” on “every offering.” Aaron Boone also noted that Cole “got better” with every inning. And that’s a highly encouraging sign for the Yankees.

Even though their pitching staff has managed itself quite well, adding a rapidly improving Gerrit Cole could prove to be a massive game-changer for them. Perhaps that’s why despite a disappointing loss, the mood inside the Yankees Clubhouse doesn’t look dire.